The LSU Tigers (4-0) are set to face the Ole Miss Rebels (0-2) in a week five top-15 SEC matchup.
Last week, the Tigers dominated from start to finish, taking down the Southeastern Louisiana Lions 56-10. LSU had by far its best offensive output, recording 530 yards and scoring 35 points by halftime.
For the Rebels, they had no trouble against Tulane, crushing the Green Wave 45-10. In the previous three weeks, coach Lane Kiffin’s group beat the Georgia State Panthers, Kentucky Wildcats, and Arkansas Razorbacks.
Kickoff between LSU and Ole Miss from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is scheduled for 2:30 PM on Saturday, September 27th.
STRENGTH ON STRENGTH
LSU’s defense versus the Ole Miss offense. This matchup will be the focal point in Saturday’s game.
For Ole Miss, its offense has recorded at least 435 yards in every game this season and has done so with multiple quarterbacks. Sophomore Austin Simmons began the season as the starter and was replaced by Trinidad Chambliss early in the game against Arkansas. Chambliss has been under center since and produced over 800 yards and five total touchdowns in the last two games.
LSU’s defense will likely be the best that Ole Miss will face all season. In 2025, the Bayou Bandits shut down opposing offenses, allowing just 9.25 points per game. That includes holding Clemson and Florida to 10 points each. Then, the Tigers surrender 246 yards per game and have forced six turnovers to go along with 11 sacks.
IS THE OFFENSE BACK
All be it against an FCS opponent, the LSU Tigers offense showed signs of life at home last week. Against Southeastern Louisiana, the Bayou Bengals recorded over 500 yards of offense and scored 56 points, the most with Garrett Nussmeier under center and the most since scoring the same amount of points versus Georgia State in November of 2023.
LSU didn’t connect for any big-play touchdowns, but the offense was the most consistent that’s been all season. In between their first and final drive, the Tigers scored touchdowns on eight consecutive possessions en route to their fourth win. Normally, there isn’t much to take away from those types of matchups, but they can be considered “Get Right” games for teams that have struggled to begin seasons in the past.
Ole Miss’s defense allowed over 520 yards of offense to the Arkansas Razorbacks two weeks ago. The Rebels also haven’t been good against the run, which gives you some hope if you’re the Tigers. Against Arkansas and the Kentucky Wildcats, Ole Miss was gashed on the ground for 221 and 172 yards in those wins over SEC opponents.
MAGNOLIA BOWL
The LSU-Ole Miss rivalry has been a long-standing, storied tradition dating back to the 1890s. Since then, the two teams have played over 100 times, with the Tigers winning the majority of the matchups.
In 2008, the game was given a name, the “Magnolia Bowl.” The name comes from a vote by students from both universities to name the game after the state flower of Louisiana and Mississippi, the magnolia. The winner of the annual contest gets awarded the “Magnolia Bowl” trophy. Once the game was given a name, LSU has taken an 11-7 advantage over Ole Miss.
Head coach Lane Kiffin took over the Rebels’ program in 2020, and it’s been a back-and-forth series since that move was made. Before then, the Tigers dominated the 2010s, including going on a five-game win streak.
SERIES RECORD: LSU leads 65-38-3
Last 5 Meetings:
2024: LSU 29 – OLE MISS 26
2023: OLE MISS 55 – LSU 49
2022: LSU 45 – OLE MISS 20
2021: OLE MISS 31 – LSU 17
2020: LSU 53 – OLE MISS 48
STAT LEADERS:
LSU
Garrett Nusseier: 94-137, 962 Yards, 6 TD, 2 INT
Caden Durham: 52 Carries, 213 Yards, 2 TD
Aaron Anderson: 21 Catches, 293 Yards
Damien Shanklin: 2 Sacks
West Weeks: 27 Tackles (12 Solo)
Dashawn Spears: 2 INT
Damian Ramos: 6-of-8 Field Goals, Long of 52, 14-of-14 PAT
Ole Miss
Trinidad Chambliss: 42-62, 719 Yards, 4 TD
Kewan Lacy: 79 Carries, 358 Yards, 7 TD
Harrison Wallace III: 16 Catches, 343 Yards, 2 TD
Zxavian Harris: 2 Sacks
Jaden Yates: 29 Tackles ( 10 Solo)
Zxavian Harris & Cedrick Beavers: 1 INT
Lucas Carneiro: 10-of-11, Long of 54, 16-of-16 PAT