Ole Miss topples LSU 24-19 in another Magnolia Bowl showdown
OXFORD, Miss. — The Magnolia Bowl added another chapter in the history books behind the roar of a packed Vaught-Hemingway crowd, the clash of two bitter rivals, and the feeling that every snap carried the weight of a season as Ole Miss ultimately carved out a 24-19 victory over LSU that will echo throughout the weekend.
Ole Miss 24, LSU 19
Rebels move to 5-0 and 3-0 in SEC play!! pic.twitter.com/5fhongN68K— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) September 27, 2025
“A lot of credit to LSU, that was a very competitive fun game to watch even if you’re not an Ole Miss or LSU fan. Some stars kind of came out and showed up today. I thought their defense was as advertised — Players have to play really well when you play great players, and assistant coaches have to coach really well. Last thing I told our coaches before they went out was ‘You’re going to earn your money today.'”
~ Lane Kiffin after the win
Trinidad Chambliss’ journey from small-school Saturdays to SEC prime time feels like a Heisman-like story unfolding in real time. Labeled “the D-2 guy”, he now commands Lane Kiffin’s offense with poise, toughness and flashy plays. Against LSU, the Ferris State transfer shook off early struggles and proved to be a problem for an elite Tiger defense when it mattered. He ended his day with 385 total yards, leading the Ole Miss offense back into the blue-blood conversation.
Kiffin commented on the emotions his senior quarterback showed after the game.
“He was pretty emotional afterwards, said I love you and all these things. It’s just a really cool story, a short guy from D2 against Nussmeier and the mighty Tigers. I’m just happy for him.”
~ Kiffin on Chambliss
Game recap
You could have tuned into this game five minutes into play and not have missed much. Ole Miss opened with two three-and-outs, struggling to establish rhythm against LSU’s defensive front as the Tigers’ offense slowly gained traction. Chambliss faced constant pressure and couldn’t connect on third down throws, leaving the Rebels searching for answers.
LSU capitalized first when Garrett Nussmeier orchestrated a steady drive midway through the quarter, converting a first down with a strike to Zavion Thomas for a 50-yard gain into the red zone. Nussmeier later heaved one into traffic near the pylon, and Nic Anderson bailed him out on a tipped pass for the game’s first touchdown.
The Rebels managed to answer, just not with a haymaker. A rare 18-play drive put Ole Miss near the goal line at the end of the opening frame, but the LSU defense stopped them there to force a chip-shot field goal from Lucas Carneiro to make it a 7-3 game.
Penalty flags were flying everywhere against the Rebels, but those calls started to leak over to the LSU side as the first quarter came to a close. Nussmeier got the Tigers across the Ole Miss 30-yard line but was picked off by an airborne Wydett Williams Jr. for the first turnover of the game.
GIVE THE BALL TO THE REBS.@WilliamsWydett x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/nbcgtqYCD2
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 27, 2025
Ole Miss desperately needed an answer with the chance to take the lead, but penalties kept coming as three of them stalled another Rebel drive before it even got started. The Landshark defense forced a big-time three-and-out to give the Rebels another chance midway through the quarter, and it seemed as if Chambliss finally had an answer.
Deuce Alexander hauled in a pair of passes for 39 combined yards to put Ole Miss into scoring position quickly, and Chambliss found Cayden Lee on the fourth play of the drive for a gain of 32 down to the goal line — but Lee fumbled the ball into the end zone for a touchback, taking the air out of the Vaught.
“Our number one rule in the program is take care of the ball, and I didn’t do that, and I will do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen again. I’m a little upset about the fumble, but the win is making it a little bit better”
~ Lee on his fumble
With LSU pinned deep in their own territory, Pete Golding‘s unit continued to answer the bell. Kam Franklin kept up his weekly visits in opposing backfields despite not getting any sacks, and the Ole Miss defense forced another punt out of LSU to sneak away unscathed from the turnover.
After the win, Kiffin praised the Landshark defense for their play as of late.
“Golding had a great plan. We should have won that game 100 times last year, and we’ve had to sit with that for a year. I think that’s a really good response on defense the last two weeks, after a poor performance against Arkansas.”
~ Kiffin on the Ole Miss defense
The following drive consisted of five penalties, but this time four of them were against the Tigers. Chambliss began to target LSU defensive backs in 1-on-1 situations, resulting in back-to-back pass interference calls to put the Rebels back in the red zone. Kewan Lacy then capped off the drive with a 15-yard touchdown scamper to kickstart his day and give Ole Miss a lead they would never surrender.
Just tooooooo easy. #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/G6XU4SJsHW
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 27, 2025
The Tigers picked up a quick first down trying to find an answer to the Ole Miss score, but the drive ended with TJ Dottery stonewalling Kaleb Jackson behind the line of scrimmage on third down in the flats. This was where Chambliss and Lacy really began to turn up the heat.
The Ferris State transfer found Lee for a redemption play of 30 yards, Alexander for a gain of 25, and Lacy followed with several angry runs to put the Rebels inside the 10-yard line. Before you could blink, Chambliss rolled to his right and found a wide-open Lee in the end zone to put the Rebels up 17–7 with 13 seconds left in the half.
CAYDEN. LEE. 🍯#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/mKlsvxeA8U
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 27, 2025
Much like the start of the game, both squads traded punts to begin the second half. Harlem Berry provided the most efficient rushing attack for the Tigers in a game where nothing on the ground worked for them, and penalties cost Ole Miss again as LSU cut the lead to seven with a 39-yard field goal.
The Rebels picked up a pair of first downs on the following drive to keep momentum on their side, but Chambliss did something he hadn’t done all season — he turned the ball over. Luckily for Ole Miss, they were in LSU territory when PJ Woodland came up with the interception, and the Landshark defense again forced another field goal.
Chambliss found Dae’Quan Wright for a gain of 26 across midfield to close the quarter with a 17-13 lead, but a holding call put the Rebels behind the sticks again. However, Harrison Wallace III joined the party for the Ole Miss attack on 3rd-and-14 with an 18-yard reception to move the chains, and the tempo rolled on. Lacy carried LSU defenders to the goal line shortly after, and Logan Diggs checked in for him to score another Magnolia Bowl touchdown, this time for the red and blue.
We DIGG this 😏@logandiggs3 x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/fdCVPxgshD
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 27, 2025
Leading 24-13, everything seemed to be going the Rebels’ way — but the Tigers had an answer. Nussmeier picked apart the defense with underneath throws all the way into the red zone, and LSU responded with a rushing touchdown by Berry nonetheless. A questionable run call on the two-point conversion attempt was stuffed by the Ole Miss defense, and the Rebels led 24-19 with five minutes to go.
Ole Miss needed to do two simple things: move the chains and force the Tigers to use their final timeout. They efficiently did both, calling seven straight run plays to push the ball past midfield, but LSU still had a chance when the Rebels faced a 4th down decision at the Tigers’ 35-yard line.
What else would you expect from a Lane Kiffin offense? Chambliss trotted back onto the field after a timeout and found a wide-open Wright on a crossing route to ice the game. The Rebels lined up in victory formation afterward, and the celebration of the marquee win began.
DAE’QUAN WRIGHT.#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/paM9AxTR9V
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 27, 2025
Kiffin talked about the gutsy play call after the game.
“There was a lot of time and discussion. I talked through a lot in my head. If you miss it (the kick)… I actually went over to Pete, he said ‘go for it,’ and it was easy when the defensive coordinator tells you to do that.”
~ Kiffin on the 4th down play call
Outside of another outstanding performance by Chambliss, Lacy led the Ole Miss offense with 87 yards on 23 carries. Lee led the Rebels’ receiving core with 70 yards on four grabs while Wright and Alexander both piled on 60 plus yards as well.
Will Echoles provided the only sack of the day from either squad, and Suntarine Perkins led the Landshark defense with 7 total tackles. Throughout the week, questions were surrounding the Ole Miss defense and many thought that group would cost them the game.
Landshark D swarming 🦈@echoles_william x #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/Wd8VRCtjE5
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 27, 2025
Ultimately, Golding’s group secured the victory for the Rebels despite 14 total penalties for 109 yards. The Rebels surrendered just 57 rushing yards and only 254 total yards to an LSU offense that was thought of as elite in the eyes of some.
Up next
The Rebels will head into a much needed bye week with a lot to be happy about, and plenty of things to work on. Ole Miss will hit the field again on Oct. 11 when they host the Washington State Cougars for homecoming in Oxford.
Kameron Wicker
Kam is an Ole Miss alumnus with a degree in Journalism. Even though he's from Delhi, Louisiana, that didn't stop Kam from growing up a diehard Ole Miss fan. He's a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He lettered four years in football and baseball in high school and is an avid Saints, Pelicans, and Astros fan. He currently resides in Gulf Shores, Alabama where he works full-time as a sports editor.
