LSU’s 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech did more than keep the Tigers unbeaten. It nudged them up in the AP Top 25, and now they’re heading into a top-10 road test with Ole Miss sitting right there with them.
The Tigers climbed from No. 8 to No. 7 after Saturday night’s home victory. Louisiana Tech stayed in the game early and was only down three at halftime, but LSU separated after the break and rolled to the finish.
Ole Miss made its own move in the poll, rising from No. 9 to No. 8 after opening the season with a 41-38 win over Louisville and following it with a 41-9 victory over Charlotte on Saturday night.
That sets up the 108th meeting between LSU and Ole Miss, with the Tigers holding the edge in the series at 65-39-3. Ole Miss won last year’s matchup, and LSU is still looking for its first win in Oxford since 2019.
The atmosphere around this one figures to be anything but calm. Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford comes after he suddenly left for Baton Rouge in the middle of a College Football Playoff run, and that backdrop should bring plenty of heat from the Ole Miss crowd.
There’s plenty riding on it, too. Both teams are trying to keep climbing in the SEC, and the result could carry major CFP implications.
LSU will need cleaner play from quarterback Sam Leavitt, who threw three first-half interceptions against Louisiana Tech. On the other side, Ole Miss has enough firepower that it can’t afford to give Trinidad Chambliss extra chances to put points on the board.
With both teams in the top 10 and plenty of emotion attached, this one already looks like the kind of game that can take over the college football conversation.
In Other News...
LSU Turned A Routine Tune-Up Into A Halftime Mess
LSU came into its meeting with Louisiana Tech expecting a routine tune-up, but the first half turned into something far messier than the Tigers had in mind. The defense did its part, stacking up sacks and forcing turnovers, yet the offense never found a steady rhythm, and the run game was especially stalled with only 44 yards on 23 carries.
Much of the unease traced back to Sam Leavitt, whose first-half line included three interceptions, one of them returned 100 yards for a pick six. Even with LSU still carrying a 10-7 lead at the break, the kind of sloppy play that usually gets smoothed out in a lopsided matchup was hanging around long enough to make the Tigers sweat a little harder than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins Oxford Return Just Made LSU-Ole Miss Even More Personal
LSU and Ole Miss each took care of business in their most recent games, which only adds to the buildup for an SEC matchup that already had plenty of edge. The Tigers now head into a game that is as much about emotion and familiarity as it is about the standings, with Lane Kiffin set to walk back into Oxford in a very different role than the one Ole Miss fans remember.
Kiffins move to LSU has given the rivalry an even sharper personal twist. He brought four players with him through the transfer portal, including two who are being sued by Ole Miss for breach of contract, which only heightens the intrigue around a reunion that was already drawing plenty of attention. For LSU, it is another important conference game. For Ole Miss, it is a chance to welcome back a former coach who left with plenty of storylines in tow. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Heads Into A Lane Kiffin Showdown With Extra Emotion
With Lane Kiffin back in the spotlight and LSU headed into Oxford for a Week 3 meeting with Ole Miss, the buildup has carried an extra layer of emotion well beyond the usual SEC buzz. The game is set for national television, and the storyline naturally brings plenty of attention to the Rebels side as they prepare to face the former coach who once led their program.
Trinidad Chambliss called the whole situation "weird," which fits the mood around a matchup that has plenty of noise attached to it. Still, the Ole Miss quarterback made clear the Rebels are trying to keep the focus where it belongs, on football, even with all the surrounding storylines threatening to take over the conversation. [Read more 🡒]