College GameDay rolled into Oxford with the kind of energy that only a top-10 showdown can bring, and the crew didn’t shy away from making its call on LSU vs. Ole Miss.
No. 7 LSU and No.
8 Ole Miss are set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, with the Tigers and Rebels meeting in one of the most anticipated regular season games in recent memory.
Lane Kiffin’s return as head coach of the Tigers only added to the buzz around the matchup.
Kirk Herbstreit did not offer a pick because he will be on the ABC call for the game. That left the rest of the College GameDay panel, along with celebrity guest picker Morgan Freeman, to weigh in from The Grove.
Freeman, a longtime Ole Miss fan and one of the most recognizable guest pickers the show has ever had, made his allegiance clear in his own way:
"Let me just say this out loud: If I go for what's his name, I will not be able to go home tonight, that's a fact. So, in spite of my belief and your every thought, Ole Miss!"
Pat McAfee went in a different direction, but not before unloading a full-throated case for why the Rebels might rise to the moment.
"That LSU team looked fast. That LSU team looked talented.
That LSU fan base looked committed. I actually said last week that I think LSU wins the national championship by 50 points.
What could little old Pete Golding and Ole Miss do against a team that I've been talking about like that? Well, you step foot in this incredibly hot state.
You feel the energy from these fine folks. You can tell that hate can certainly motivate, and it does feel like in college football, if that stadium's upside down, anything can happen.
So I guess the question we got to ask Morgan Freeman is: Are you ready? Ole Miss."
Nick Saban, who coached at LSU before becoming one of the most prominent voices on the set, drew boos before revealing his pick. The crowd let him hear it even more after he sided with the Tigers.
"I think Trinidad Chambliss is the most dynamic player in college football. I think Lacy's the best running back in football.
I love Pete Golding as a defensive coach, and I think he'll have him ready. But defense travels, and LSU has the better defense, so I'm taking LSU."
The show also noted the recent edge in the series at home, pointing out that the home team has won 12 of the last 14 meetings, including six straight. Trinidad's number is six, on the desk with the great Morgan Freeman. Hotty toddy, y'all.
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 🡒]