NCAA denying Trinidad Chambliss sixth-year extension waiver was the insult to injury Ole Miss did not deserve.
But luck is on Ole Miss's side in the transfer portal this season, as it took just about two days from the official Chambliss announcement to land their most notable transfer portal commitment of this cycle yet, Auburn QB Deuce Knight.
Ole Miss lands Deuce Knight
More than luck, it is what you call a classic transfer portal masterclass from Golding. The rumors of Ole Miss being a favorite for Deuce Knight started within an hour of the NCAA announcing their decision on Chambliss on Jan. 9.
Knight committed to Ole Miss on Jan. 11.
The timing was perfect as Golding solved his biggest roster gap of 2026 even before it became a full-blown crisis.
Knight became an easy target for Golding, since Auburn's new head coach, Alex Golesh, brought in Byrum Brown, his former starting quarterback at South Florida.
The win feels particularly triumphant because Golding has done it while managing a team through the College Football Playoffs, while still recovering from the sudden head coaching change.
And it goes without saying, this is not the only commit that makes Ole Miss a top portal class this cycle.
The Rebels have landed equally laudable 12 commits so far.
Auburn CB Jay Crawford, Baylor LB Keaton Thomas, and Nevada Edge Jonathan Maldonado are also spectacular steals that Ole Miss made in the transfer portal market.
Factor in the remaining four days of the transfer portal, and Golding would have assembled a blue-chip haul that most coaches would trade their left arm for.