Ole Miss takes down LSU: Late defensive stand gives Rebels revenge against Lane Kiffin

The Lane Kiffin circus overshadowed the rising stardom of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss last season. But on Saturday night, Chambliss -- not Kiffin -- was the ultimate star. The Division II transfer in his second season with the Rebels totaled 363 yards passing and two touchdowns on 33 of 48 through the air. 

He recovered from a bad interception in the third quarter by leading a 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth that he capped with the go-ahead touchdown run. There is a reason why Ole Miss launched a preseason Heisman campaign for Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy. The LSU win marked Chambliss' sixth win against a ranked opponent in just over one year as the Ole Miss starter, and the performance brought his early-season Heisman candidacy squarely into focus.

Chambliss possesses a rare combination of accuracy, mobility and feel for the game. Combine that with an elite football IQ, and you get the best quarterback in the SEC.

Pete Golding's first game as the Ole Miss head coach was a 41-10 College Football Playoff win over No. 17 Tulane. His second was a 39-34 win over No. 2 Georgia. Then, after a 31-27 loss to No. 10 Miami in the CFP semifinals, the Rebels played two of their first three games in 2026 against ranked foes.

After dispatching No. 24 Louisville in Week 1 and No. 7 LSU on Saturday night, Golding is 5-1 as a head coach with four victories against ranked opponents. The 42-year old former Ole Miss defensive coordinator undoubtedly landed the head coaching job by being in the right place at the right time amid Kiffin's pre-CFP departure last season. But it's hard to imagine a much better start to his head coaching tenure. 

Two playoff wins and a 3-0 start in 2026 that includes a win over Kiffin and LSU? Ole Miss fans and Golding would have signed up for that in a heartbeat amid the mayhem of the coaching change last year. Golding is still a rookie head coach navigating the unprecedented grind of a 9-game SEC schedule. There is a long way to go. But the early returns on both his program management and in-game coaching are encouraging.

Ole Miss lost running back Kewan Lacy to injury in the third quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. Without their star back, the Rebels became mostly one-dimensional. Lacy's status is a huge issue to monitor for Ole Miss as the Rebels hit the road to face a surging Florida team in Week 4. Backup running back JT Lindsey, an LSU transfer, totaled 20 yards on four carries.

LSU star tight end Trey'Dez Green left early in the fourth quarter after suffering an apparent right leg injury. Green finished as the Tigers' leading receiver with four catches for 60 yards and was sorely missed on the game's final drive. 

You knew that Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford was going to stir up a lot of emotions. Fans were angry the day he left for Baton Rouge, and they sure seemed fired up on his much-awaited return Saturday night.

From the famous Grove tailgating scene on a scorching hot day to inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Ole Miss fans didn't hide their displeasure for their former head coach. There were loud, sometimes profanity-laden, chants aimed at Lane throughout the night that could even be heard on the television broadcast. There were signs and posters all over the SEC college town. It felt like Tennessee all over again when Lane made his first return to Knoxville following his one-year stint with the Volunteers.

Fans all week talked about how they couldn't wait to get past Saturday after all the build up and all the raw feelings that went into it. But on Saturday night, they embraced everything that came with Lane Kiffin's return appearance.

Ole Miss exacted a cathartic dose of revenge on Lane Kiffin as the No. 8 Rebels survived a furious rally from No. 7 LSU to notch a program-defining 32-24 win Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kiffin's first SEC game as the Tigers' head coach following six seasons at Ole Miss proved the staying power of the program he built in Mississippi.

It also showed the program he's trying to build in Louisiana has ground to cover before it reaches the nation's elite. A nearly perfect start from Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss fueled Ole Miss to a 24-7 halftime advantage before the Tigers came up with a counterattack. 

LSU reeled off 17 unanswered points to tie the game at 24 early in the fourth quarter before Chambliss answered the bell again. As he so often did last season while leading Ole Miss to a school-record 13 victories, Chambliss delivered a clutch late scoring drive. His 14-yard touchdown scamper with 6:14 remaining and a subsequent 2-point conversion put the Rebels ahead eight points.

From there, the Ole Miss defense came up with a game-clinching stand on a fourth-and-goal play with just over a minute remaining as the Rebels improved to 3-0 (1-0 SEC). LSU dropped to 2-1 (0-1) in Kiffin's first season after he spent six seasons guiding the Rebels through one of the greatest eras in program history. 

Kiffin engaged in a prolonged in-season flirtation with other schools in the midst of an 11-1 Ole Miss regular season last year. Then, he accepted the LSU job, creating a complicated divorce that birthed the conditions for an atmosphere of unprecedented hostility on Saturday night. In the end, Ole Miss came out on top.

The Tigers are on the move in Ole Miss territory after the two-minute timeout as they seek a touchdown and 2-point conversion to tie the game. It all comes down to this. LSU rallied from a 17-point deficit already. Does it have the juice for one push?

6:14 4Q: Ole Miss 32, LSU 24

Trinidad Chambliss capped a 13-play drive with a 14-yard touchdown scamper as he ran around the left side of the line untouched for a go-ahead score. That put an end to a stretch of 17 unanswered points from LSU. In a stunning decision, Pete Golding left his offense on the field to go for two in an unconventional spot. Ole Miss drew LSU offsides twice, inching the football even closer to the goal-line for the conversion attempt. LSU transfer running back JT Lindsey punched it in to put Ole Miss ahead eight.

Fourth quarter: Ole Miss 24, LSU 24

The Tigers have officially tied things up on a successful 23-yard field goal. It's a stunning comeback given Ole Miss held a 24-7 lead coming into the second half.

Ole Miss has shown an ability to win wild games but this is going to put a lot of pressure on Trinidad Chambliss with star running back Kewan Lacy dealing with a shoulder injury. 

End of third quarter: Ole Miss 24, LSU 21

Ole Miss played nearly a perfect first half. It's been anything but that in the second half. What looked like a first down throw to Deuce Alexander later got overturned on review for not completing the catch. On the next play, Trinidad Chambliss took a loss of 20 yards on a sack setting LSU up with favorable field position after a punt.

In the third quarter, LSU scored 14 points to set up what could be a classic finish in the fourth quarter. LSU capitalized on a Trinidad Chambliss early in the quarter to cut the lead to 24-14. And then Sam Leavitt found former Ole Miss receiver Winston Watkins for a touchdown that silenced the crowd. 

Third quarter: Ole Miss 24, LSU 21

Ole Miss is still up but it doesn't feel that way after LSU scores on a Sam Leavitt to Winston Watkins 26-yard touchdown. Watkins is one of the former Ole Miss players who followed Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge.

What has been a raucous crowd all night in Oxford has gotten awfully quiet and nervous with what was once a 24-7 lead now down to just three points. 

A big drive coming up for Trinidad Chambliss and Co. 

Third quarter: Ole Miss 24, LSU 14

An Ole Miss offensive drive that started off promisingly ended with nothing as Lucas Carneiro missed a 53-yard field goal. The Rebels had the ball with 1st and 10 on LSU's 35-yard line but a holding penalty eventually set up a 3rd-and-20 situation. 

Ole Miss had a terrific first half but you can sense some nervousness creeping into Vaught-Hemingway with LSU hanging around down only 10 points and with the ball before the end of the third quarter. 

Third quarter: Ole Miss 24, LSU 14

This one isn't over yet, folks. LSU needed just six plays to cut Ole Miss' lead to 24-14 on a Sam Leavitt 4-yard touchdown run. Leavitt set it up well with a 13-yard run up the middle on a third-and-7. 

The night has mostly gone in Ole Miss' favor but it will be interesting to see how the Rebels start their next offensive drive after Chambliss' interception on the last one. 

Third quarter: Ole Miss 24, LSU 7

Trinidad Chambliss made his first real mistake of the night on an intercepted pass that set LSU up deep on Ole Miss' side of the field. Not sure if receiver went wrong way or Chambliss just missed the mark but it is a rare mishap for the star QB. 

End of second quarter: Ole Miss 24, LSU 7

It was almost all Ole Miss in the first half of the Lane Kiffin Bowl. 

Ole Miss star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was on fire for the Rebels in the first half, throwing for 248 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-27 passing. Chambliss' ability to see the field and find a play out of nothing is elite and was on display throughout the first half against LSU. Two pro-level throws in the first quarter set up a Kewan Lacy rushing touchdown to go up 10-0. 

Chambliss' first touchdown pass of the night came on a 21-yard throw to Traylon Ray. It was the second big hookup of the first half between Chambliss and Ray, who connected for a 38-yard gain in the first quarter on an outstanding catch. Ray led the way with six catches for 96 yards in the first half.

It didn't go as smoothly for LSU's offense. Quarterback Sam Leavitt was often forced to scramble or move outside the pocket as Ole Miss' defense quickly collapsed it. He just missed a few throws that could have gone for big gains, one of which was a likely touchdown had he thrown it better. He did make something out of nothing on what should have been a sack that he turned into a nine-yard gain, setting up LSU's lone score of the game. 

Chambliss' best drive of the first half came on his final one in an efficient two-minute drill that LSU had no answers for. Chambliss kept putting the ball right on the money for his receivers and gave Ole Miss the 17-point halftime lead on a 20-yard touchdown pass to Deuce Alexander. 

Second quarter: Ole Miss 17, LSU 7

The Tigers finally get on the board late in the first half on a 2-yard Dilin Jones touchdown run. Jones, who was shaken up earlier in the drive, came back and looked fine on the TD run. 

The touchdown was set up from Sam Leavitt going full magician out on the field taking what looked like could be a 10-plus yard sack on a third down into a 9-yard completion for a first down. Leavitt hasn't been great in the first half but his running ability on a broken play is why LSU finally has a touchdown. 

Second quarter: Ole Miss 17, LSU 0

LSU running back Dilin Jones appeared to hurt his left ankle after a 14-yard gain for a first down. It'd be a significant loss for LSU if it's even remotely serious as Jones leads the Tigers with 29 yards in the first half. 

Second quarter: Ole Miss 17, LSU 0

Probably not how Lane Kiffin envisioned his big return to Oxford starting off. Ole Miss is owning every component of this game so far especially offensively with 214 yards to LSU's 29.

Trinidad Chambliss put Ole Miss up 17-0 with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Traylon Ray. Chambliss is having an all-time night for the Rebels so far. He's now 15 for 19 with 173 passing yards and a touchdown. 

Second quarter: Ole Miss 10, LSU 0

According to our talented CBS Sports research team, Lane Kiffin is 1-18 all-time when trailing by 10 or more points against a ranked opponent. His only win came against No. 24 Tulane back in 2023. 

First quarter: Ole Miss 10, LSU 0

Ole Miss is flying around the field, offensively and defensively, and looks a step or two better than LSU early. The Rebels went up 10-0 on a five-yard Kewan Lacy touchdown run. The drive was set up by a 30-yard Caleb Odom catch and run and one of the best catches you'll see all season from Traylon Ray for a 38-yard gain. 

Trinidad Chambliss is settling in nicely for Ole Miss and that doesn't bode well for LSU. 

First quarter: Ole Miss 3, LSU 0

Ole Miss puts points on the board first on a Lucas Carneiro 37-yard field goal. After a mess of a first offensive drive for the Rebels, Trinidad Chambliss got it going on the second. The Ole Miss QB is now 6 for 8 for 35 passing yards and eight rushing yards. Star running back Kewan Lacy has only one carry for one yard thus far. 

First quarter: Ole Miss 0, LSU 0

After two offensive drives, Ole Miss and LSU have combined for negative-three yards of total offense. Ole Miss wasn't able to do much on its first drive after an untimely holding penalty erased a big Kewan Lacy gain and a backwards pass from Trinidad Chambliss was ruled a fumble.

LSU wasn't any better. Other than a false start penalty, the Tigers did nothing of note and were forced to punt after going three-and-out. 

First quarter: Ole Miss 0, LSU 0

After two offensive drives, Ole Miss and LSU have combined for negative-three yards of total offense. Ole Miss wasn't able to do much on its first drive after an untimely holding penalty erased a big Kewan Lacy gain and a backwards pass from Trinidad Chambliss was ruled a fumble.

LSU wasn't any better. Other than a false start penalty, the Tigers did nothing of note and were forced to punt after going three-and-out. 

Ole Miss will start with the ball on its own 25-yard line after LSU deferred to the second half. We are officially underway here inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. 

We are finally just a few minutes away here from kicking off in Oxford. Former Ole Miss great Archie Manning, notably not a huge fan of former coach Lane Kiffin, just lead the fans in the "Are You Ready?" opening chant. 

We are finally just a few minutes away here from kicking off in Oxford. Former Ole Miss great Archie Manning, notably not a huge fan of former coach Lane Kiffin, just lead the fans in the "Are You Ready?" opening chant. 

Saturday night, the polarizing Lane Kiffin will make his return to Ole Miss as he leads No. 7 LSU into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to face the No. 8 Rebels in what's being highlighted as one of the most anticipated games in recent SEC history. Not since 1962 have both teams been ranked in the top 10 for the annual clash of border states.

The drama of Kiffin's return less than 10 months after accepting the LSU job at the tail end of his sixth season with Ole Miss — before the Rebels made a playoff run without him — adds gasoline to a matchup brimming with on-field intrigue. The winner will be in prime position to contend for a College Football Playoff spot and will get to claim victory in one of the sport's all-time nastiest breakups.

If Ole Miss wins, it will be interpreted as a sign that the Rebels have staying power among the SEC's elite after Kiffin elevated the program to new heights before bolting. If LSU wins, Kiffin will have taken a critical first step toward leading the Tigers back to national prominence after Brian Kelly's disappointing four-year tenure.

Both teams are 2-0 with Week 1 victories over ACC opponents and Week 2 tune-up wins against overmatched Group of Six opponents. Now comes the long-awaited Week 3 showdown between Kiffin and the program he used as a springboard.

Louisville exposed some holes in the Ole Miss secondary during the Rebels' 41-38 Week 1 victory. If ever there's a coach capable of exploiting those holes, it's Lane Kiffin. He's an offensive mastermind who knows the defensive buttons that Ole Miss coach Pete Golding likes to press. LSU's defense hasn't been truly tested yet, but if the Tigers can hold their own on that side of the ball, look for Kiffin's play-calling to make the difference in a tight game. Pick: LSU -2.5

This week's secondary ticket market for a sold-out showdown illustrates the fervor around the matchup. The get-in price as of Thursday afternoon sat at or above $500 at popular third-party ticket sites. Additionally, local police beefed up security ahead of Kiffin's return, bringing in reinforcements to help control what's expected to be a rowdy environment. It won't be Kiffin's first time returning to an SEC stadium where he previously coached — he's also been back to Tennessee — but the anticipation has never been quite at this level before. It will make for an intimidating atmosphere as the Tigers play their first road game under Kiffin.

LSU raised some eyebrows when it listed starting quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful on its initial SEC-mandated injury report Wednesday night. Leavitt didn't throw at Wednesday's practice while dealing with an upper body issue, CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported. However, Zenitz reported that Leavitt did participate in LSU's Thursday walkthrough. If he's unable to play, LSU's primary backup is Elon transfer Landen Clark, who totaled nearly 3,000 yards last season as a dual-threat playmaker while earning CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year.

While serving as the Ole Miss defensive coordinator under Lane Kiffin for three seasons, Rebels head coach Pete Golding became well-acquainted with coaching against Kiffin's offenses in practice. Former Rebels offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. is now in the same role with the Tigers. It sets up an intriguing and multi-layered chess match. While LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker isn't as familiar with the Rebels and their new offensive coordinator John David Baker, Kiffin worked with Baker previously and can share plenty of insights on how to handle Ole Miss star quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.