Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-20 · by Brett Martel The Associated Press
Trinidad Chambliss led No. 8 Mississippi to a 32-24 victory over No. 7 LSU on Saturday night in Oxford, Mississippi, with 363 passing yards and two touchdowns. The game was notable for Kiffin's return to Ole Miss after leaving to coach LSU last year; Chambliss, whom Kiffin recruited from Division II, made a crucial fourth-quarter run that put Ole Miss ahead by eight points, which they ultimately held onto despite LSU's efforts to tie the game late.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 16, 2023, a highly anticipated college football game took place in Oxford, Mississippi, where No. 8 Ole Miss hosted No. 7 LSU. The match was notable for being the first time since Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss to become LSU's head coach that he returned to Vaught Hemingway Stadium with his new team. Fans of both schools and football enthusiasts nationwide were excited about this matchup due to its high stakes and emotional backdrop. With an estimated 300,000 visitors converging on campus for the game and related festivities, security was heightened significantly. The event also drew attention for controversial off-field issues, including lawsuits over NIL deals and recruitment practices. Despite these distractions, the main focus remained on a thrilling in-game performance between two top-10 teams with notable Heisman contenders like Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy from Ole Miss, and LSU's Sam Leavitt. The game was seen as an emotional climax to months of anticipation and conflict, drawing substantial media coverage and betting interest across various sportsbooks and prediction markets. ESPN’s Harry Lyles provided extensive coverage leading up to the event, highlighting the drama surrounding Coach Kiffin's return. This matchup stood out even among other high-profile games like Texas vs. UTSA in Week 3, underscoring its significance in college football. The game promised not only intense competition but also a showcase of heated rivalry and personal stakes for all involved.
Written for “LSU vs Ole Miss Rivalry Game” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 25 other(s) covering the same event.
Lane Kiffin’s new team at LSU couldn’t deny Trinidad Chambliss — the quarterback Kiffin helped transform into a star after recruiting him from a Division II program to Mississippi last year.
asserted
Kiffin → deny → Mississippi
Chambliss passed for 363 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a tiebreaking score in the fourth quarter, and No. 8 Ole Miss delighted a crowd that was already revved up about Kiffin’s return, beating the seventh-ranked Tigers 32-24 on Saturday night.
asserted
that → pass → night
LSU stormed back from a 24-7 halftime deficit to tie the game before Chambliss engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive without the services of top running back Kewan Lacy, who left the game with an injured left shoulder.
asserted
who → storm → shoulder
Chambliss faked a handoff and ran 14 yards against the grain, outracing LSU safety Ty Benefield to the left pylon, and Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) added a 2-point conversion to take an eight-point lead with 6:14 to go.
asserted
Miss → fake → 6:14
Ole Miss drew LSU offside twice while lining up for the conversion before converting it from a half-yard out on a direct snap to JT Lindsey.
asserted
Miss → draw → Lindsey
LSU answered by driving 69 yards to the Ole Miss 6 before Sam Leavitt missed open tight end Zach Grace along the goal line with a third-down pass, and then had his fourth-down pass deflect off the helmet of defensive end Kam Franklin.
asserted
pass → answer → Franklin
Jaylon Braxton intercepted the ball in the end zone to seal it as Kiffin virtually collapsed to his knees.
asserted
Kiffin → intercept → knees
Leavitt passed for 153 yards and a touchdown and ran for 63 yards and a score for LSU (2-1, 0-1).
asserted
Leavitt → pass → LSU
The Tigers’ comeback bid began in earnest with pressure by Benefield, whose blitz forced Chambliss into a rushed throw that was intercepted by Ja’Keem Jackson and returned 10 yards to the Rebels 33.
asserted
that → begin → Rebels
Leavitt took it from there, gaining 10 yards on a scramble up the middle that ended with the QB being flipped upside down by multiple tacklers before crashing down hard on the 4-yard line.
asserted
QB → take → line
Leavitt responded to the big hit with a tackle-slipping scoring run on the next play to make it 24-14.
asserted
it → respond → play
After Lucas Caneiro missed a 53-yard field goal attempt wide right, LSU pulled within 24-21 on Leavitt’s 26-yard pass to Ole Miss transfer Winston Watkins Jr., who made a leaping, twisting catch near the right corner of the end zone and touched one foot down.
asserted
who → miss → zone
LSU was driving to potentially take the lead when star tight end Trey’Dez Green injured his right knee on a first-down catch in Ole Miss territory.
asserted
Green → drive → territory
The Tigers wound up tying it with a field goal before Ole Miss drove for the decisive score.
asserted
Miss → wind → score
Ole Miss has defeated LSU in consecutive seasons, with Chambliss starring in both games — the first with Kiffin as his coach.
asserted
Chambliss → defeat → coach
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, who was instrumental in an LSU athletic department shake-up last fall that precipitated Kiffin’s hiring, smiled widely as he posed for a picture with Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill on the field during pregame warmups.
But they couldn’t have been happy about how the game began.
asserted
game → precipitate → warmups
Chambliss sparked Ole Miss to a 17-0 lead, highlighted by Lacy’s 5-yard power run through the middle of the line and Chambliss’ 21-yard pass to Traylon Ray.
asserted
Chambliss → spark → Ray
Ray, who finished with seven catches for 115 yards, was instrumental on the first touchdown drive, outleaping two defenders for a 36-yard catch along the right sideline.
asserted
who → finish → sideline
LSU trimmed the Rebels’ lead to 17-7 on Dilin Jones’ 2-yard run with 1:57 left in the half — enough time for Chambliss to direct another scoring drive.
asserted
Chambliss → trim → drive
After eluding the LSU pass rush, Chambliss rifled a 20 yard pass to Deuce Alexander in the middle of the end zone to make it 24-7 just 7 seconds before halftime, and Ole Miss fans stood and roared in approval as the Rebels trotted to the locker room.
asserted
Rebels → elude → room
The Tigers will be disappointed by their slow start but encouraged by a strong second half that took a tough road game down to the wire in Kiffin’s third game in charge.
asserted
that → disappoint → charge
But Green’s injury could loom large.
uncertain
injury → loom → ?
The Tigers also lost linebacker-safety Dashawn Spears to a lower left leg injury in the first half.
asserted
Tigers → lose → half
Chambliss’ calm under pressure and dynamic play made the difference, especially after Lacy had to leave the game in the third quarter.
asserted
Lacy → make → quarter
The Rebels will have to hope Lacy’s injury doesn’t keep him out for too long.
asserted
injury → have → long
Up next
LSU: Hosts current No. 9 Texas A&M next Saturday.
asserted
LSU → host → A&M
Mississippi: Visits Florida next Saturday.
asserted
Mississippi → visit → Florida
The Aporia
