Lane Kiffin’s first trip back to Ole Miss ended with a loss on the scoreboard, but his words afterward made it clear the night meant a lot more than that.
After No. 7 LSU fell 32-24 to the Rebels on Saturday night, Kiffin reflected on the six seasons he spent in Oxford and the impact the program had on him. He said the emotions were bigger than football, and that returning for this kind of game without his father added another layer to the night.
“It was just really a lot of emotions of gratefulness for this place, and the six years went well beyond football. Kind of the first time coming into this type of game without my dad.
It was a lot and was really emotional. But it was not emotions maybe that I thought I would have felt from all to name calling, everything when we got off the bus and everything.
It was much more just a lot of gratitude for this place and the people that changed my life way bigger than football,” Kiffin said after the game.
“A lot of emotions of gratefulness for this place, and the six years went well beyond football.”
Lane Kiffin reflects on his time at Ole Miss 🤝 pic.twitter.com/AI05OWdUe5
- ESPN (@espn) September 20, 2026
The matchup had plenty of buildup, especially with Kiffin leaving Ole Miss in 2025 after the Rebels reached the College Football Playoffs and taking over at LSU after Brian Kelly was fired. That decision drew controversy, but Saturday also gave Kiffin a chance to look back on what his time with the Rebels meant to him.
On the field, Ole Miss set the tone early and never really let LSU settle in. The Rebels grabbed a 24-7 lead by halftime and held off the Tigers’ second-half push.
Sam Leavitt played through injury and still got the start for LSU. He finished 16 of 27 for 158 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while also running 17 times for 63 yards and a score.
Dilin Jones led LSU’s ground game with 23 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown. Trey’Dez Green caught four passes for 60 yards, and Winston Watkins Jr. added three receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.
LSU will try to regroup at home next week. The Tigers host No.
9 Texas A&M on Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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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 🡒]