LSU’s defense had the game in front of it late at Ole Miss, and it let the Rebels take it away.
After LSU fell 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford for the first time since his departure in November, the postgame focus landed squarely on a unit that knew it had a chance to close the door. The Tigers started slowly in the first half, then found their footing after halftime, but the final Ole Miss possession swung everything back the other way when Trinidad Chambliss proved too much and punched in the go-ahead score.
For linebacker Whit Weeks, that was the part that stung most.
“I mean game was on us and we didn’t come,” Weeks said. “It’s frustrating, um, you know we want the game to be on us and we didn’t execute when it mattered most.”
Chambliss gave LSU’s defense its toughest quarterback challenge of the season, and safety Ty Benefield didn’t try to soften the review of his own performance or the group around him. He put the responsibility on himself.
“I take everything, I take full responsibility,” Benefield said. “Coaches can’t go out there and play the game because we’re out there, so I take this as a leader.”
Even with the loss, LSU showed fight after falling behind 24-7 at the break. Benefield pointed to that resilience as proof the group can answer when things go sideways, though the challenge now is carrying that same edge from the opening kickoff.
“It just shows that we’re gritty, we’re tough and we’re really good to be able to come back and do that,” Benefield said. “Teams that aren’t that good can’t do that and it shows how much we love and care for each other.”
Weeks took the defeat especially hard. He was visibly distraught after the game, and with this likely his last regular-season matchup against Ole Miss, the loss carried extra weight.
“I wanted to win this one more than any of them, um, and we didn’t,” Weeks said. “So, it’s frustrating, put a lot of work in to be successful and you know, they’ve gotten three out of the four in my career and I’m just thinking of ways to come back better from it.”
LSU’s next test comes against Marcel Reed and Texas A&M, and Reed has already made a habit of hurting the Tigers on the ground. If Benefield and Weeks want a different mood the next time they step to the microphone, stopping Reed’s rushing threat will be at the top of the list.
In Other News...
LSU Fans Have One More Reason To Hate This Ole Miss Loss
Ole Miss 32-24 win over LSU was already frustrating enough for Tigers fans, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss putting together a big day through the air and on the ground in a game that helped the Rebels leave with a rivalry win. He threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns, added another score rushing and had just one interception, giving Ole Miss plenty to celebrate after the final whistle.
For LSU fans, though, the irritation did not end with the scoreboard. Chambliss postgame interview with ESPNs Holly Rowe added one more layer to the loss when he let an expletive slip while delivering the Ole Miss cheer Hotty Toddy, a moment that will only sharpen how this result is remembered in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins Family Is Forcing Ole Miss Fans To Confront Something Ugly
As LSU and Ole Miss prepare for a high-profile matchup Saturday night, the attention around Lane Kiffin has spilled far beyond the sideline. His family, including daughter Landry, has been hit with inappropriate jokes on social media, a reminder of how quickly rivalry week can turn ugly when football noise bleeds into personal attacks.
Layla Kiffin, Lanes ex-wife, posted a message calling for kindness, and Landry publicly addressed the offensive comments as well. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and will air on ABC, but the lead-up has already shown how much harder it can be for families attached to a marquee SEC game to stay out of the crossfire. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Suddenly Has A Trey'Dez Green Concern It Can't Ignore
TreyDez Green gave LSU a lift against Ole Miss before the fourth quarter turned troubling, and the Tigers immediately had to adjust to life without their tight end. Green hauled in a 19-yard reception before suffering an apparent right leg injury, then was evaluated on the field by medical staff as the LSU sideline watched a key pass-catching option go down.
By the time he was carted to the locker room, the LSU Football Radio Broadcast had ruled him doubtful to return, leaving the Tigers with a real concern in the passing game. Green had been LSUs leading receiver at the time of his exit with four catches for 60 yards, a reminder of how much the offense had already leaned on him before the injury interrupted the night. [Read more 🡒]