For the first time this year, the LSU Tigers lose a game to put an end to their 4-0 start on the season. The Ole Miss Rebels, which continue their undefeated season, dominated the game statistically in this Top 15 matchup to win 24-19.
The Ole Miss offense outgained LSU’s offense 480 yards to 254 while running 84 plays to LSU’s 56 games.
“Disappointed in the loss certainly, but there’s a game within the game. We start with the first half and our inability to sustain anything on the offensive side of the ball and put our defense on the field for over 50 plays. At the end of the day and you put it all together for four quarters, we didn’t play complementary football. You have to be able to complement your offense and defense. When our offense started to move the ball a little bit, our defense couldn’t make a stop. We just couldn’t get this whole group playing together with the same effectiveness that you need to win games like this.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Once again, the LSU offense struggled to put points and extend drives throughout the game. Garrett Nussmeier did not have the same effectiveness as he did the week before and struggled to get any rhythm offensively completing 21 of 34 passes for 197 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
“Garrett Nussmeier has got to play better. Every player on offense has to play better. There’s not one guy out there that you can say that’s the reason we lost. There’s many players that have to play their best when their best is needed. We have to be better on third down and that’s not just Garrett. We got to get going. Our coaches got to get our guys in position to make plays. We struggled with completing the deep ball. This is not a Garrett Nussmeier problem. This is an entire football team of guys doing our job at a higher level.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
The running game was non-existent against an Ole Miss defense that has struggled in stopping the run rushing for only 57 yards on 22 carries, which is an average of 2.6 yards per carry.
On the other hand, Trinidad Chambliss impressed against a really good LSU defense by converting 10 of 19 plays on the money down including the fourth down and four conversion to a wide open Da’Quan Wright to seal the deal and run the rest of the clock out.
“Trinidad made up for that when he ran out of bounds. We believe in our players. We go for it on fourth down a lot. I am glad they made them pay the price.”
Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin
The former Division II National Champion from Ferris State completed 23 of 39 passes for 314 yards and one touchdown while rushing for another 71 yards on the ground.
The game started great for LSU as Nussmeier hit Zavion Thomas for a 51 yard gain to later set up what was a crazy touchdown catch from Nic Anderson, who caught a pass off a ricochet to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.
Ole Miss safety and former Gridiron Football All-American Wydett Williams intercepted Nussmeier on the following drive and the Rebels were able to capitalize to pull within four at 7-3 after keeping the ball on an 18 play, 83 yard drive.
LSU would get a turnover themselves on defense with AJ Haulcy forcing a fumble and Whit Weeks recovering the ball in the end zone. However, the LSU offense would continue to struggle after the Nussmeier interception punting the ball on their next three possessions.
The Rebels grabbed their first lead of the game and did not look back after a couple of penalties extended an Ole Miss drive, which was capped off with a 15 yard touchdown run from Kewan Lacy to put them ahead at 10-7.
Right before halftime, the Rebels extended their lead at 17-7 with a touchdown pass from Chambliss to Cayden Lee for back to back touchdown drives heading into the locker room.
In the second half, the LSU defense forced their second turnover with PJ Woodland getting an acrobatic interception and returning it 31 yards back.
Damian Ramos hit back to back field goals to bring the Tigers within four at 17-13 heading into the final quarter of play, but the Ole Miss offense responded with former LSU running back Logan Diggs scoring to cap off a 75 yard touchdown drive to give the Rebels their biggest lead at 24-13.
LSU needed a scoring drive to stay in the game, and they did convert two fourth downs to Kyle Parker in order to keep drives alive but had to burn two timeouts in the process. Freshman running back Harlem Berry got his first touchdown as a Tiger to make it a 24-19 game, but LSU could not convert on the two point conversion.
When it was needed, the Ole Miss offense was able to run out the rest of the clock and preserve a 24-19 win to launch the Rebels now into the SEC Championship and College Football Playoff conversation.
This was revenge for the Rebels who lost the game last year to LSU on the road 29-26 with the more talented roster and now, it was LSU, who lost the game to Ole Miss with a more talented and financially bought in roster.
“That one hurt a lot. We gave that one away and we were ahead the whole time in Baton Rouge. It feels good to get back on the winning side. We didn’t finish that one last year, but we finished it this year.”
Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin
The LSU Tigers suffer a disappointing loss as they enter the bye week and after being ranked in the Top 5, Brian Kelly’s team will drop a couple of spots with a lot of major questions surrounding an offense that has struggled through the first couple of games this season.
“I love this group. They are really good players, but we got to get them to complement each other on a day to day basis.”
LSU HC Brian Kelly
Meanwhile, the Ole Miss Rebels make a statement that they can compete with the best the SEC has to offer and will make a big jump in the rankings.
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