Ole Miss got the kind of Saturday it wanted in Oxford: a comfortable win, a clean enough scoreboard, and a little bit of runway before the SEC grind starts next week.
The Rebels rolled past Charlotte 41-9, but the performance came with enough rough edges to keep the staff’s attention pointed forward. LSU visits Vaught-Hemingway Stadium next Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and Ole Miss still has some fixing to do before that SEC opener.
The biggest concern sat on the defensive side, where Pete Golding called out communication at halftime. That came a week after Ole Miss allowed 351 yards in the second half of its win over Louisville, and against Charlotte the Rebels were again vulnerable to busted assignments. Ole Miss blew multiple coverages, including three around the deep hashes, and those breakdowns produced the 49ers’ biggest passing gains of the night.
The secondary is still being shuffled around, too. Ole Miss was again without its expected top cornerbacks, leaving the back end as a rotating cast. Antonio Kite, who was the Rebels’ best corner a season ago, has played only six snaps through the first two games.
Charlotte found some success on the ground as well, averaging more than four yards per carry and getting a boost from a 43-yard run.
Offensively, Trinidad Chambliss was sharp and steady without ever turning the night into a fireworks show. He completed 18 of his first 20 passes and finished 23-for-26 for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Even so, through three quarters Ole Miss’ longest completion was only 17 yards, so the Rebels never really cracked the game open with one explosive strike.
Kewan Lacy was another key piece worth watching. He entered the week as a question mark, but he not only suited up, he handled most of the workload against the American Conference opponent. He averaged just under seven yards per carry, though he didn’t get the kind of rest the staff may have hoped for.
Ole Miss finally put the game fully out of reach with a 75-yard march to start the fourth quarter, finished by a touchdown catch from Horatio Fields.
Deuce Alexander was the busiest target in the passing game, hauling in eight catches for 72 yards and seeing five more targets than the next closest receiver.
Caleb Cunningham also found his footing after not being involved in the offense a week ago. This time, he worked the intermediate areas and caught six passes for 65 yards.
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LSU Heads Into A Lane Kiffin Showdown With Extra Emotion
Week 3 in Oxford already had enough juice on its own, and now Ole Miss is getting a nationally televised matchup with LSU that comes with an extra layer of old rivalry baggage. Lane Kiffins return to the other sideline is the obvious headline, but for the Rebels, the conversation inside the building still centers on the game itself and the chance to handle a big stage at home.
Trinidad Chambliss said the setup feels "weird," which is about as candid a description as you could expect from a quarterback trying to keep the focus where it belongs. Ole Miss has plenty of reasons to be locked in with the attention surrounding LSU and Kiffin, but Chambliss made it clear the Rebels are treating it like football first, storyline second. [Read more 🡒]
DeZhaun Striblings NFL Injury May Be More Serious Than It First Seemed
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Lane Kiffin Just Added More Tension To LSU's Return To Oxford
LSUs 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech still came with enough rough edges to keep the focus on what comes next, and that matters with Ole Miss waiting in Oxford. Sam Leavitts three interceptions were part of a sloppy stretch that kept the Tigers from looking fully polished, even in a lopsided result, and the conversation around the game quickly turned from the score to how well it might sharpen LSU before a tougher SEC test.
Lane Kiffin, now back on the other side of this rivalry, has only added to the intrigue around the return trip to Oxford. He left Ole Miss before the College Football Playoff, with Pete Golding taking over and guiding the Rebels through CFP wins before the run ended in the semifinals, so this matchup already carries some built-in edge. With LSU showing cracks at an awkward time and Kiffin back in the mix, the game has picked up another layer of tension before the teams even kick off. [Read more 🡒]