Ole Miss spent to keep its roster together after Lane Kiffin left for LSU, and the quarterback was the centerpiece. Trinidad Chambliss stayed in Oxford on a revenue share deal reported above $5 million a year, and the Rebels enter 2026 with a football roster valued at roughly $31.8 million.
| Player | Position | Reported valuation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinidad Chambliss | QB | $5M to $6M | On3 published $5M in July; a separate model put him at $6M. Top 10 nationally either way |
| Kewan Lacy | RB | About $2M | Rushing touchdown in 11 straight games |
| Tommy Kinsler IV | RT | About $1M | Highest valued offensive lineman on the roster |
| Kam Franklin | DE | About $1.1M | Leads a defensive group valued near $8M |
| Johntay Cook | WR | About $985K | Slot receiver |
Figures are third party estimates from On3 and independent roster models, not disclosed contracts. Ole Miss does not publish its payroll.
Where Ole Miss Sits in the SEC
| School | Reported roster valuation |
|---|---|
| LSU | $42.8M |
| Texas A&M | $38.9M |
| Alabama | $37.2M |
| Tennessee | $35.7M |
| Georgia | $34.2M |
| Oklahoma | $33M |
| South Carolina | $32M |
| Ole Miss | About $31.8M |
| Florida | $30.6M |
The Deal That Defined the Offseason
When Kiffin left for LSU in December he took several Rebels with him, including edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen, receiver Winston Watkins and linebacker TJ Dottery. The one he did not get was Chambliss, who admitted publicly that there were discussions and thoughts about following him, and who said naming Pete Golding as head coach is what kept him in Oxford.
The money mattered too. Ole Miss signed him to a revenue share deal reported above $5 million a year, and his public valuation has climbed steeply: On3 had him at $1.6 million in April and $5 million by July, after a playoff semifinal run and a court ruling that granted him another year of eligibility.
That climb is a useful illustration of something worth understanding about these numbers. A valuation estimates what a player could command, not what he was paid, and the two move independently. Our explainer on NIL valuation versus actual earnings covers why. For the other side of Saturday’s game see LSU NIL.
The Bottom Line
Ole Miss carries a roster valued around $31.8 million, ninth among the SEC schools reported, with Chambliss at $5 million to $6 million depending on the model and a revenue share deal reported above $5 million a year.