Kewan Lacy Injury Update, Latest on Ole Miss Star's Status, Return Timeline amid CFP Bracket Push

Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss will have to continue their push for the College Football Playoff without star running back Kewan Lacy.

On3's Pete Nakos reported Thursday Lacy is expected to miss the rest of the 2026 season due to injury.

Lacy missed time with a shoulder injury earlier this season before suffering a dislocated shoulder in an Oct. 24 game at Texas. He had already been ruled out of Saturday's matchup at Oklahoma.

The running back was listed as the No. 21 prospect on Bleacher Report's 2027 NFL draft big board back in September. Lacy is eligible to either enter the draft or return for another college season in 2027.

Scouts have only gotten to see Lacy play the majority of a single college season. After appearing in six games as a true freshman at Missouri, Lacy joined Ole Miss in 2025 and went on to lead the FBS with 306 carries.

Lacy paced the SEC with 24 rushing touchdowns during that sophomore season to go with 1,567 rushing yards over 15 games.

Injuries have kept Lacy from replicating that campaign as a junior. He will finish the 2026 season with 78 carries for 388 yards and five scores.

Lacy's injury issues started when he suffered what Ole Miss coach Pete Golding called a "bruised" left shoulder last December during a first-round CFP win over Tulane.

He remained with the Rebels for the rest of their run to the CFP semifinals and later underwent offseason surgery on his shoulder.

Lacy suffered a thigh injury in Ole Miss' season opener against Louisville, then rnjured his shoulder Sept. 19 against LSU. The running back missed one contest before returning to the lineup, only to suffer his next shoulder injury three games later.

Saturday will mark Lacy's third straight absence. He will also be expected to sit out an Oct. 21 matchup against Wofford and the Oct. 27 regular-season finale against Mississippi State.

Ole Miss (6-3) fell nine spots to No. 19 in the second CFP selection committee rankings after a blowout loss to No. 2 Georgia last Saturday.

That defeat left the Rebels with no room for error as Ole Miss works to convince the selection committee this team still deserves a playoff spot in Chambliss' last college season.

Golding will have to turn to Makhi Frazier and Shekai Mills-Knight to lead his team's run game as Ole Miss prepares for a must-win Saturday matchup.