No. 7 LSU lost to No. 8 Ole Miss 32-24 on Saturday night in Oxford, dropping the Tigers to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in SEC play. The loss came in Lane Kiffin’s first game back at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium since leaving Ole Miss to become LSU’s head coach.
Ole Miss improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the SEC with the victory. The Rebels also extended their home winning streak to 14 games, while the game drew a Vaught-Hemingway Stadium record crowd of 70,033.
LSU entered the matchup after opening the season with wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech. The Tigers defeated Clemson 51-10 on Sept. 5 and Louisiana Tech 45-14 on Sept. 12 before facing their first SEC opponent of the season.
Ole Miss Takes Early Control
Ole Miss scored the first 17 points of the game and controlled much of the first half. Lucas Carneiro opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal before Kewan Lacy added a 5-yard touchdown run.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss then connected with Traylon Ray for a 21-yard touchdown, giving the Rebels a 17-0 lead with 9:49 remaining in the second quarter. LSU answered with a 17-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Dilin Jones scoring on a 2-yard run.
Ole Miss responded before halftime. Chambliss found Deuce Alexander for a 20-yard touchdown with 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter, sending the Rebels into halftime with a 24-7 advantage.
LSU Completes Second-Half Comeback
LSU changed the momentum after halftime and scored 17 unanswered points. Sam Leavitt opened the comeback with a 4-yard touchdown run after LSU’s defense forced its first turnover of the game.
Leavitt then threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Winnie Watkins late in the third quarter, cutting the Ole Miss lead to 24-21. LSU tied the game at 24 with 11:21 remaining when Scott Starzyk made a 23-yard field goal.
The Tigers finished with 330 total yards, including 172 rushing yards and 158 passing yards. Jones led LSU’s rushing attack with 106 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, while Leavitt added 63 rushing yards and two total touchdowns.
Chambliss Delivers Late
Ole Miss regained the lead with a 13-play, 75-yard drive that lasted more than five minutes. Chambliss finished the possession with a 14-yard touchdown run with 6:14 remaining.
The Rebels then converted a two-point attempt to make the score 32-24. LSU had one final opportunity to respond, but Leavitt’s pass on fourth-and-6 from the Ole Miss 6-yard line was tipped and intercepted, ending the game.
Chambliss completed 33 of 48 passes for 363 yards and two passing touchdowns, while also adding a rushing touchdown. Ole Miss finished with 426 total yards, including 363 through the air.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 16 of 27 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed for 63 yards and a touchdown.
LSU Returns to Tiger Stadium
The loss leaves LSU at 2-1 overall and 0-1 in SEC play. The Tigers will return to Tiger Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26, to face Texas A&M in a nationally televised game on ABC.
LSU’s remaining regular-season schedule includes games against McNeese, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Auburn, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, moves forward at 3-0 after its home victory over LSU. The Rebels’ win also gave them their first SEC victory of the 2026 season.
