Bill Text: MS SC526 | 2026 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulate Ole Miss Rebels Football Team for outstanding 2025-2026 Sugar Bowl Season finishing No. 3 in Final Football Rankings.
Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 23-6)
Status: (Passed) 2026-03-04 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC526 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2026-SC526-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2026 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Michel, Hopson, Kirby, McMahan, Rhodes, Frazier, Barnett, Sparks, Johnson, DeLano, DuPree, Wiggins, Suber, Parks, Blackwell, DeBar, McLendon, Taylor, Thomas, Boyd, Fillingane, Hickman, McCaughn, Chassaniol, Seymour, Barrett, Harkins, Blackmon, England
Senate Concurrent Resolution 526
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI OLE MISS REBELS FOOTBALL TEAM AND HEAD COACH PETE GOLDING FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING 2025-2026 FOOTBALL SEASON FINISHING WITH A SUGAR BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP, NO. 3 NATIONAL RANKING, THE HIGHEST RANKED SEC TEAM IN THE FINAL POLLS AND WITH THE HIGHEST RANKING SINCE 1962.
WHEREAS, The University of Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels Football Team and Head Coach Pete Golding capped off one of the most memorable seasons in program history by finishing No. 3 in the final "Associated Press" Top 25 college football poll, and the US LBM Coaches Poll, the team's highest final ranking since 1962. With a 13-2 record, Ole Miss was the highest-ranked SEC team in the final polls; and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss' No. 3 finish is a watershed moment for a program that has steadily continued to rise, and on that, won two college football playoff games under Head Coach Pete Golding; and
WHEREAS, prior to this year, the last time the Rebels landed that high in the final AP rankings was 1962, when an undefeated Ole Miss team finished third after a perfect 10-0 season and win in the Sugar Bowl, a benchmark that stood untouched for more than six decades. In 1959 and 1960, the Rebels finished No. 2 in the country with a 10-1 finish and 10-0-1 finish, respectively, and won the Sugar Bowl both years as they did again in 2026; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Ole Miss squad delivered one of the most electric seasons in school history, finishing with a 13-2 overall record, highlighted by marquee wins over top-10 opponents and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals where they lost a fourth-quarter thriller to Miami; and
WHEREAS, throughout the year, the Rebels consistently climbed the national polls, rewarding a relentless mix of offensive firepower and defensive grit; and
WHEREAS, at the heart of this season, for the team and for Coach Golding, was a belief that Ole Miss could compete with anyone, and the final AP ranking validated that confidence. The No. 3 spot not only reflects the Rebels' body of work on the field but also signals a new era of national relevance for a program that has battled through ups and downs in the modern era of college football. For Rebel fans, the finish represents both a historic achievement and a launching pad. With some key players expected to return; and
WHEREAS, the incredible run for the No. 3 Ole Miss came to an end as No. 2 Miami topped the Rebels 31-27, in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl. Ole Miss would erase another half-time deficit, regaining the lead at 27-24 with 3:18 to play, but Miami would respond with a game-winning drive of their own spanning 75-yards over 16 plays, capped off by a Carson Beck three-yard rushing touchdown with 18 seconds remaining. Trinidad Chambliss gave everything he had again for Ole Miss going 23-of-37 for 277 yards and one touchdown. Chambliss finished his season with 3,937 yards passing and 30 total touchdowns. His favorite target on the night was De'Zhaun Stribling who hauled in five catches for 77 yards. Cayden Lee would also tally five receptions for 67 yards. Running back, Kewan Lacy crossed the century mark on the ground for the seventh time this season with 103 yards on 11 carries. Lacy's 73-yard touchdown run marked his career-long, as he extended his single-season school record with his 24th rushing touchdown on the season. TJ Dottery paced the Rebel defense with a team high 11 tackles. He had one tackle for loss and nine of his tackles were solo. In the secondary, Kapena Gushiken hauled in his first interception as a Rebel and fourth of his career; and
WHEREAS, Trinidad Chambliss's last-gasp pass into the end zone intended for De'Zhaun Stribling fell incomplete. Despite several tugs of Stribling's jersey and significant contact from a Miami defender, pass interference was not called. The State Farm Stadium scoreboard at the Fiesta Bowl showed Miami with 31 points, Ole Miss 27. The clock showed all zeroes. This magical 2025 Ole Miss football season finally ended January 8, 2026, one victory short of playing in the national championship game. This game dripped drama; and
WHEREAS, Coach Pete Golding said when asked about his team's legacy, "I'll just remember how they embraced each other. That's who they are. They just went to work and made sure everyone around them went to work. I'll remember the smiles. It's the memories. It's the laughs. It's the camaraderie and how they grew together. They're going to be talking about this for a long, long time. Some of it will be about what could have happened and all that, but they've made memories in that locker room that will last a lifetime"; and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss Football won the 2025-2026 Sugar Bowl, the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, defeating Georgia 39-34 in a thrilling game on January 1, 2026, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and kicker Lucas Carneiro leading the way, securing their spot in the semifinals. The Rebels advanced to play Miami in the Fiesta Bowl, capping a historic season with a significant win over the Bulldogs; and
WHEREAS, the Sugar Bowl Ole Miss Championship 2025-2026 Roster: Trinidad Chambliss, George Hamsley, Shawqi Itraish, AJ Maddox, Austin Simmons, Maealiuaki Smith, Austin Acton, Logan Diggs, Trey Hall, Kewan Lacy, Shekai Mills-Knight, Damien Taylor, Macaleb Taylor, Domonique Thomas, Anthony Aguirre, Deuce Alexander, Dillon Alfred, Levi Blount, Caleb Cunningham, Dylan Davis, Izaiah Hartrup, Cayden Lee, Caleb Odom, Mac Owen, Ciaran Pedulla, Joshua Pfeifer, Devin Price, Traylon Ray, Samari Reed, De'Zhaun Stribling, Harrison Wallace, Winston Watkins, Hayden Bradley, Trace Bruckler, Jack Harper, Luke Hasz, Sean Judge, Wyatt Smalley, Dae'Quan Wright, Terez Davis, Ethan Fields, Jude Foster, Devin Harper, TJ Hedrick, Connor Howes, Cooper Johnson, Joe Koury, Patrick Kutas, Percy Lewis, Trey Nightingale, John Wayne Oliver, Diego Pounds, Brycen Sanders, Delano Townsend, Mason Waddle, PJ Wilkins, Jayden Williams, Andrew Maddox, Corey Adams, Corey Amos, Cam Clark, Paris Evans, Kam Franklin, Talib Graham, DeeJay Holmes, Jr., Princewill Umanmielen, Da'Shawn Womack, Kamron Beavers, Jamarious Brown, Lakendrick Clancy, Will Echoles, Zxavian Harris, Caleb James, Tavion Prather, Jeffery Rush, Jon Seaton, Tyler Banks, Ford Beeker, Cooper Cannon, Tahj Chambers, Raymond Collins, TJ Dottery, Jarcoby Hopson, Andrew Jones, Suntarine Perkins, Mark Trigg, Jr., Bryson Walters, Jaden Yates, John Ross Ashley, Cedrick Beavers, Jaylon Braxton, Pat Broomfield, Dante Core, Maison Dunn, Tavoy Feagin, Ricky Fletcher, Chris Graves, Jr., Antonio Kite, Micah Stallworth, Isreal Solomon, JT Banks, Ladarian Clardy, Nick Cull, Kapena Gushiken, Andy Jaffe, MJ Preston, Anthony Robinson, Sage Ryan, Kegan Sherwood, Cortez Thomas, Wydett Williams, Jr., Keon Young, Mike Baker, Jalen Ballard, Lucas Carneiro, Oscar Bird, Caleb Blankenship, Carter Short, Kortlen Wilfawn, and Head Coach Pete Golding. Assistant Coaches: John David Baker, Bryan Brown, John Garrison, Randall Joyner, Joe Judge, Wes Neighbors III, Jake Schoonover, Micheal Spurlock, and Patrick Toney; and
WHEREAS, those of us lucky enough to have witnessed it will not forget the 2025-2026 Ole Miss Football Season and it is with great pride that we recognize a Championship Team which has brought honor to its University, its community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the University of Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels Football Team and Head Coach Pete Golding for their outstanding 2025-2026 football season finishing with a No. 3 national ranking, the highest-ranked SEC team in the final polls with the highest finish since 1962, and we extend to Coach Golding and his staff our best wishes for future success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Coach Pete Golding and Athletic Director Keith Carter for the team, transmitted to University of Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
