Ole Miss handed LSU its first loss of the season with a 32-24 victory in Oxford, reversing our prediction of a narrow LSU win.
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Predicted Score: LSU 31, Ole Miss 28
Actual Score: Ole Miss 32, LSU 24
The Rebels controlled the first half behind quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. Ole Miss led 10-0 after the first quarter and 24-7 at halftime, putting LSU in a difficult position against an energized home crowd.
Chambliss finished 33 of 48 for 363 yards and two touchdowns. Traylon Ray caught seven passes for 115 yards and a score, while Caleb Odom added 88 receiving yards. Ole Miss accumulated 426 total yards.
LSU made the game interesting after halftime.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt scored on a four-yard run and later connected with Winston Watkins Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown. The Tigers scored 14 unanswered third-quarter points, and a field goal early in the fourth finally tied the game at 24.
Ole Miss answered when it mattered most.
Chambliss produced a 14-yard touchdown run with 6:20 remaining, and the Rebels added the two-point conversion for a 32-24 advantage.
LSU still had an opportunity late. The Tigers drove deep into Ole Miss territory, but Leavitt was intercepted by Jaden Braxton in the end zone with just over a minute remaining, ending the comeback.
Leavitt finished with 158 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, while Dilin Jones rushed for 106 yards.
Ole Miss’ victory was significant because the Rebels didn’t simply protect an early lead. After LSU erased a 17-point deficit and tied the game, Ole Miss responded with the decisive touchdown.
Our prediction anticipated a three-point LSU victory. Instead, Ole Miss won by eight. The Rebels leave Week 3 unbeaten and with one of the conference’s most important early-season victories.
