Ole Miss vs LSU: What Did We Learn from the Rebels’ 24-19 win over the Tigers?
OXFORD, Miss.– Ole Miss moved to 5-0 after a thrilling victory over the No. 4 LSU Tigers, handing Brian Kelly and his team their first loss of the season.
The Rebels are now 5-0 for the first time since 2022 and control their own destiny with a bye week in hand and Washington State coming to town October 11th.
The game against the Tigers was a marquee matchup, and Ole Miss did not run away from the big stage. The Rebels have now won the last three matchups in Oxford, and they will use the bye week to prepare for the rest of the season and to help some players recover from injuries.
The victory keeps the Rebels atop the SEC standings for another week, and Ole Miss could not have asked for a better start to the season.
Despite the adversity of losing all but two starters from last season on offense and two on defense, Ole Miss appears unfazed by so many newcomers this season, so let’s give credit where credit is due. Retaining the entire coaching staff from last season, head coach Lane Kiffin has created a culture in Oxford that hasn’t been around since the Johnny Vaught days.
So now, let’s look at what we learned from win over LSU.
Ole Miss came in as the favorites, and they delivered
In most matchups between the No. 13 and No. 4 teams, the favorite would be the higher-ranked team. However, that wasn’t the case last Saturday. Ole Miss entered the game as a 2.5-point favorite at kickoff, and they delivered. According to ESPN, Ole Miss held over a 70% chance to win going into this game.
The Tigers, who had already defeated Clemson and Florida, were led by their preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Garrett Nussmeier at QB and one of the best defenses in the country, and it seemed like everything would be favored towards the Tigers.
But Ole Miss has one of the most electric offenses in the country, whether by the numbers or the eye test.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss entered the game averaging more than 10 yards per attempt and 17.1 per completion, and with the emergence of a running game with Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss appears to have filled the holes from last year.
Additionally, another incredible performance from the offensive line was key if Ole Miss wanted any chance against the Tigers, and the line came through. Allowing zero sacks, the unit protected the quarterback and propelled the offense forward.
Going into the game, the LSU defense had recorded 11 sacks already this season, ranking top 20 in the country. But the Rebels’ line handled whatever LSU sent their way Saturday.
Despite some costly penalties, the line never wavered, and this will be important in road games against foes like Oklahoma and Georgia. If you cannot move on from mistakes, you will have no chance to compete. Ole Miss has proven to have a short term memory from early season struggles, and it showed in the win over the Tigers.
This isn’t the 2024 Ole Miss defense, and it doesn’t need to be
Going into the LSU game, a lot of discussion surrounded the Ole Miss defense and rightfully so. After a horrid performance a few weeks ago against Arkansas, and a run defense that gave up almost 200 yards against Tulane, the national narrative seemed to be “could Ole Miss do enough defensively to win this game?”
They did, and they have all season long. Things don’t always go your way in football, but how do you put the negative things behind you?
The Rebels didn’t let that Arkansas game define who they are as a defense.
“We wanted to improve more than our coaches wanted it, and that’s how you win games as a defense.”
Wydett Williams Jr on the defensive mindset since Arkansas
Sure, Ole Miss lost a lot of superstar power defensively from last year, no question. But defensive coordinator Pete Golding has believed in this year’s group from the start — and for obvious reasons. They showed up in many ways against LSU that might not show up in the box score, and that will be pivotal if Ole Miss wants any chance to make it to the college football playoffs this year.
Wydett Williams Jr. came up with an interception of Nussmeier that sent Vaught-Hemingway Stadium into a frenzy, but it wasn’t just this moment that had fans believing the Ole Miss defense is legit. It was a compilation of moments from the entire game. Will Echoles and Da’Shawn Womack recorded sacks and Kam Franklin, Suntarine Perkins, and Jamarious Brown seemed to put pressure on Nussmeier on almost every snap.
Other players provided big plays as well: Princewill Umanmielen made his presence known over and over and linebacker TJ Dottery was a man amongst boys, seemingly all over the field during every play, providing a spark with monumental open field tackles.
The re-emergence of defensive back Jaylon Braxton from injury was needed for Golding’s squad, not only for coverage situations, but because he’s a player who can play the ball well and make big tackles happen. Braxton’s energy was evident; he flew around the field with great energy.
Ole Miss held the Tigers to just 57 yards rushing. They held them to just 2-of-11 on third downs. That’s a lot of players doing a lot of good things on this defensive unit.
Culture Shift
One subtle but meaningful sign: after beating No. 3 LSU, Ole Miss fans didn’t storm the field. That restraint suggests a win like this is no longer a Cinderella moment, but a foundation in the making.
Coach Kiffin talked about his at his postgame press conference.
“Appreciate them not rushing the field. So, I think — not to take away from probably the extra security that probably helped — but to me that’s really cool that you get to a place at a program that you do beat the No. 3 team in the country, and you don’t rush the field because we did what we’re supposed to do and that’s win the game. And so, that makes me happy that this program’s got to that place.”
Lane Kiffin
He talked again later in his press conference about the crowd’s restraint.
“But I just think it says a lot of where we’re at, you know. We lost down there and LSU stormed the field last year against Ole Miss, and that didn’t seem like that’s supposed to happen. And then here we beat them here and we don’t storm the field. So good spot to be in.”
Lane Kiffin
Moving Forward: Bye Week
In all, some things do need addressing if you’re Ole Miss during this bye week. A collection of penalties has continued for special teams throughout the season, and you can’t continue that if you want to compete at a high level.
Will Ole Miss continue to ride the hot hand of Chambliss? With a bye week, there is expectation that Austin Simmons will be ready to go come Washington State, and although some think it’s a hard decision if you’re Lane Kiffin, he personally thinks it’s a great spot to be in if you’re a coach — having two top QBs on your team.
There isn’t a better point for a bye week if you’re Ole Miss as some players can rest up from injuries. Now, preparation begins for the latter part of the season, with two tough road tests upcoming with Oklahoma and Georgia. But, first, a hungry Washington State team comes to town.
Stay tuned to The Rebel Walk for more Ole Miss football news.
Daylan Flowers
Daylan is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas and currently a junior Journalism major at Ole Miss with an emphasis in sports media and a minor in history. In addition to his work for The Rebel Walk, Daylan is the creator of 'The Daylan Show,' a podcast that shares stories from people all over the sports and media world. He is an avid Arsenal, Cowboys, and St.Louis Cardinals fan. Daylan has a strong passion for photography, including many sporting events and photoshoots.
