The buildup to Saturday night in Oxford has had a different kind of electricity to it, and that’s saying something for LSU and Ole Miss. These are border rivals with 114 meetings dating back to 1894, a series that has touched SEC races, national title chases and Heisman campaigns.
But the No. 7 Tigers and No.
8 Rebels meeting in the SEC opener feels unlike the rest.
That’s because Lane Kiffin is back in the middle of it, only now he’s on LSU’s sideline after leaving Ole Miss just before the Rebels were set to play in the 2025 College Football Playoff. The matchup has been circled far beyond Louisiana and Mississippi, and it finally arrives with both teams unbeaten at 2-0 and ranked in the top 10 for the first time in the series since 1962.
Both programs handled their first two games cleanly. LSU opened by flattening Clemson, 51-10, then followed with a 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech.
Ole Miss beat then-No. 24 Louisville 41-38 on a last-second finish and then took care of Charlotte, 41-9.
That’s how two teams get to a stage this big without stumbling out of the gate.
Pete Golding, now leading the Rebels after being promoted from defensive coordinator, said the atmosphere should take care of itself.
"I think both teams put themselves in a great position to have a top-10 matchup to open up SEC conference play for us at home with College GameDay," said Rebels coach Pete Golding. "If (players) can't get up for this one, I don't know why they play the game.
"There's so much on the line ... and then obviously the former players, former coaches and the relationships that you've had. Obviously, this one is unique."
Kiffin, who brought several players and assistant coaches with him from Oxford to Baton Rouge, brushed off the idea that LSU is carrying the heavier emotional load. He pointed the attention back toward himself.
"I told the players, 'Man, you don't have anything to worry about as far as attention on you all week and everything,'" Kiffin said. "'There's going to be so much attention, hatred, everything on me.
Really, the pressure's on (the Rebels). We won seven games last year.
They won 13. ... You guys just get to go play.'"
He also highlighted what Ole Miss still has in the backfield, calling out Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy as "two Heisman candidates ... in the same backfield," with Chambliss drawing particularly strong praise. Kiffin called him "the best-playing quarterback in the country last year."
That challenge comes against an LSU defense that has been suffocating through two games. The Tigers lead the nation in total defense at 142.5 yards per game and rank second to Houston against the run at 18.5 yards per game.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, will be watching LSU’s quarterback situation closely. The Tigers listed Sam Leavitt as doubtful on Wednesday, changed him to questionable Thursday and then removed him from the SEC availability report Friday night. Under conference policy, doubtful means a 25% chance of playing, while questionable means 50%.
Leavitt did not appear to be injured when he came off the field against Louisiana Tech, and it remains unclear whether the issue surfaced in practice. Multiple reports said he took part in Thursday morning’s practice, while conflicting reports tied the listing to either back spasms or a sore throwing shoulder.
Leavitt has been a big part of LSU’s fast start. He ranks sixth nationally in total offense at 354.5 yards per game, shares third in the country and leads all quarterbacks with five rushing touchdowns, and has also thrown four interceptions, including three in the first half last week. Behind him are freshman Husan Longstreet and sophomore Landen Clark.
Golding said Leavitt’s mobility stands out, but Ole Miss will want to keep him in the pocket.
"I've just been really impressed with his athleticism once he decides to become a runner," Golding said of Leavitt. "I think it's going to be really important to try to make him become a pocket passer."
In Other News...
LSUs Quarterback Situation Just Got Dragged Into A New Controversy
Sam Leavitts performance in LSUs loss to Ole Miss was already going to be part of the postgame conversation, but the attention around the Tigers quarterback has since shifted away from the field. A social media account believed to be linked to his father, Jared Leavitt, posted controversial comments about Muslims, quickly drawing concern from LSU fans and media and adding an uncomfortable layer to an already scrutinized situation.
So far, there has been no official response or apology from the account or from LSU, leaving the issue hanging as Leavitt prepares for the next stretch of games. For a quarterback trying to settle things down on the field, the off-field noise is the last thing LSU needs, especially with the program now facing questions that have little to do with wins and losses. [Read more 🡒]
Pat McAfee Sparks Ole Miss Sideline Buzz With Unexpected Game-Day Appearance
Pat McAfee showed up on the sideline for Ole Miss-LSU on Sept. 19, and his presence quickly became one of the more talked-about details around the game. He was seen standing next to Mary Kate Cornett, the Ole Miss student who had previously been drawn into a false rumor McAfee discussed on his show, a saga that had already spilled well beyond the football field.
Cornett had once considered legal action against McAfee before the matter was resolved outside of court, which made their shared appearance in Oxford all the more notable. Neither has publicly addressed what it meant, and for now the image of the two together is left to linger without an explanation from either side. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Took A Rivalry Shot LSU Fans Wont Forget
Ole Miss left its mark on the rivalry with LSU in a 32-24 win that came with a little extra theater after the final whistle. The Rebels not only handled business on the field, but also leaned into the moment by playing "Callin Baton Rouge" as LSU players walked off, a nod that was sure to land with plenty of bite for a SEC crowd that knows exactly what that song means.
Trinidad Chambliss added to the night with a strong performance against his former coach, Lane Kiffin, giving Ole Miss another layer of satisfaction in a game that already carried plenty of edge. Between the postgame gesture from fans and players and the way the Rebels closed it out, this was the kind of win that sticks around long after the score is forgotten. [Read more 🡒]