Ole Miss and LSU are set for a heavyweight Saturday matchup, and the buildup has already matched the billing. With both teams unbeaten and sitting in the AP top 10, this game carries College Football Playoff weight this early in the season. It has also drawn enough attention that security has been tightened around the matchup.
There’s extra edge here for the Ole Miss side. For a lot of the Rebels’ coaches and staff, this is a revenge game against former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who is now running LSU. Pete Golding and Kiffin will also meet as opposing head coaches for the first time, after Golding worked under Kiffin as his defensive coordinator from 2023-2025.
The betting market has moved around quite a bit since the opener. Ole Miss started out as the favorite before LSU’s win over Clemson shifted the line toward the Tigers.
At one point, the Tigers were favored by three points, then the line dropped to LSU by one after Kiffin ruled star quarterback Sam Leavitt doubtful. That number has since settled back to LSU minus three after Leavitt was upgraded to questionable.
Injuries could play a major role in how this one unfolds. The SEC injury report listed Leavitt as doubtful, though that didn’t seem to hold much weight. He was later moved to questionable, which makes it likely he’ll suit up for LSU on Saturday.
Ole Miss also got a boost on the defensive side. Golding said the Rebels’ secondary will have Antonio Kite and Florida transfer Sharif Denson back in the mix. That’s a welcome development for a unit that has been shaky through two games, especially after rough outings against Louisville and Charlotte.
For Ole Miss, the timing matters. The secondary looks healthier just as the Rebels head into what is clearly their biggest game of the season.
In Other News...
LSU Fans Were Shaken By A Frightening Scene Above Saturday's Game
Saturdays Ole Miss-LSU game had enough drama on the field, but one of the most talked-about moments came high above the stadium. An ESPN camera drone capturing aerial shots for the broadcast had a close call when a helicopter flew very near it, and the footage quickly spread across social media as fans tried to make sense of what they had just seen.
The scene understandably rattled viewers, including a helicopter pilot who weighed in after watching the clip. No collision occurred, and the game carried on without further incident, but the moment served as a reminder of just how much is moving around a big-time college football broadcast long before anyone starts talking about the final score. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Fans Will Have Plenty To Say About This ESPN Sideline Moment
Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge were both on the sideline for ESPN during the LSU-Ole Miss matchup, with Rowe handling injury updates and Rutledge delivering live field reports as the broadcast kept moving through a high-profile SEC night. A short clip of the handoff between the two reporters quickly made the rounds on social media, giving fans another off-field moment to dissect from a game that already had plenty of attention on it.
Rowe also ended the night on a more familiar note, conducting a postgame interview after Ole Miss beat LSU. The moment came with added context because Rowe has already been part of one of the more unusual sideline storylines of the season, when a false AI-generated video involving Texas coach Steve Sarkisian triggered public apologies from Arch Manning and Sarkisian. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Suddenly Has A Kewan Lacy Problem Again
Kewan Lacys season has become defined as much by what he cannot finish as by what he can give Ole Miss when he is on the field. The running back has already had to leave games against Louisville and LSU because of health concerns, and his latest exit came after he landed hard on his right shoulder against the Tigers and needed to be evaluated for a possible AC joint injury, stinger or clavicle issue.
For a Rebels offense that has wanted Lacy in the mix, the bigger question now is how long that uncertainty lasts. Ole Miss has been forced to lean on other backs while waiting for clarity, and with Lacys availability still unsettled, the room suddenly looks a lot thinner than the Rebels probably expected at this point in the season. [Read more 🡒]