Ole Miss head football coach Pete Golding has been added to the 2026 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award watch list.
The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions both on and off the field. Golding joins notable coaches like Alabama’s Kaelen DeBoer, Ohio State’s Ryan Day, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, Miami’s Mario Cristobal, and Memphis’ Charles Huff, among others on the watch list.
Golding is the first head coach in college football history to face seven ranked opponents in his first nine games. And the Ole Miss frontman has not been so shabby in those games. Golding is 5-2 versus ranked foes, tying legendary former Oklahoma head man Barry Switzer in being the quickest to reach that number.
Ole Miss (5-1, 3-1 SEC) and Golding will soon embark on another ranked venture. The No. 7 Rebels are set to take on No. 19 Texas on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT. The game will air on ABC and participating SuperTalk Mississippi stations.
The winner of the Bear Bryant National Coach of the Year Award will be announced in Houston, Texas, on Jan. 27