‘We Did What We Were Supposed to Do’ | Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss Celebrate Statement Win Over LSU
OXFORD, Miss. – Saturday afternoon in Oxford felt like more than just another game. Ole Miss’ 24–19 triumph over LSU was the kind of win that lingers — a test of resilience, a reward for patience, and a glimpse of a team learning how to close the door on the SEC’s elite.
The victory felt bigger than the scoreboard. It was an afternoon when the program’s steady climb under Lane Kiffin came into sharp focus, and when a Division II transfer quarterback became the heartbeat of a storybook win.
Head coach Lane Kiffin and the Rebels didn’t just notch another victory; they showed they could stand toe-to-toe with one of the most talented rosters in the nation and deliver when it mattered most.
Afterward, Kiffin walked into his press conference and his words carried the weight of a coach who knew this wasn’t just another check in the win column — it was a milestone.
“All right. A lot of credit to LSU. That was a very competitive, really a awesome game, I would think, to watch, even if you weren’t LSU or Ole Miss fans. Some stars kind of came out and and showed up today. I thought that their defense was as advertised. I mean, they’re loaded on defense. So, they got a lot of players that make a lot of plays. And I told Brian Kelly in warmups, I was like, ‘You guys look like an NFL team down there.’”
Lane Kiffin
For Kiffin, the game was a test of his players and his staff — and both delivered. “The last thing I told our coaches before we go out there was, ‘you’re going to earn your money today in this one. It’s not going to be easy.’ And I thought our guys made a lot of really big calls in the game defensively and offensively.”
Fighting Through Adversity
The win wasn’t without its bumps. Ole Miss battled penalties, turnovers, and the kind of tense momentum swings that can break a team.
But every time LSU clawed close, the Rebels answered.
When asked about a critical third-quarter drive that could have tilted the game the other way, Kiffin praised his players’ resilience. “Yes, on Kewan’s run to the left. And then so it goes to 3rd and what I thought was like ten. And they moved it back more as they had a timeout to 14. We hit the in-route so that that was huge. We actually flipped Deuce (Alexander) over there. It’s not really where he normally is on that route, and we told Trinidad, ‘Hey let’s go backside to him.’ And those two made the play.”
It was that kind of night: Ole Miss finding ways to make plays against a defense loaded with NFL talent.
A Gamble That Defined the Night
Perhaps no moment captured the night more than Kiffin’s decision to go for it on 4th down late in the game instead of attempting a long field goal. It was vintage Lane — bold, analytical, and trusting his team.
“There was a lot of time there in discussion. If you miss it (a field goal), you got a chance to lose. And I actually clicked over to Pete (Golding) and I said, ‘Pete, here’s the situation. I’m thinking of going for it. But we can kick the long field goal.’ And he’s like ‘Go for it.’ … That’s just how we play. And I’m not saying that arrogantly. That’s a lot of — and the book would tell you to do that right there too, analytics would tell you.”
Lane Kiffin on the game-clinching first down late in the game
Dae’Quan Wright’s catch sealed it, and the Vaught roared.
The Story of Trinidad Chambliss
But if there was a single thread that tied the night together, it was Trinidad Chambliss. The Ferris State transfer — once overlooked, now unstoppable — threw for another 300 yards and made plays that will be remembered in Oxford for years.
“Yeah, just really he was pretty emotional afterwards in there and we had a really cool hug and he said, ‘I love you’ and these things. And he was just so appreciative for the opportunity. But it’s just a really cool story. I like good stories. You know, here’s a little short kid from Division 2, going against Nussmeier and the Mighty Tigers at little Ole Miss. So, it was really cool.”
Lane Kiffin on Trinidad Chambliss
It wasn’t just about numbers. It was about a player who had dreamed of this chance and made the most of it — and about a coach who saw his team rally around him.
A Program Growing Up
Ole Miss didn’t storm the field. That, too, mattered to Kiffin.
“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
In many ways, that calm confidence told the story of where Ole Miss football is under Kiffin. No longer content with “big upsets,” the Rebels are building something sustainable, something expected.
Now 5-0, the Rebels head into a bye week with the SEC spotlight firmly on them. And while questions about quarterback decisions in the future linger, the mood in Oxford is clear: this was more than just a win over LSU. It was a message.
And maybe most importantly, as Kiffin himself reminded everyone — it was a sign that Ole Miss is right where it belongs.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
