The LSU Ole Miss game was one of the biggest matchups this season, with nearly 11 million viewers. There are no real winners from the game, though, only losers of varying degrees.
LSU Ole Miss Both Lost At Quarterback
It didn’t matter which quarterback got the win because they both have controversies surrounding them. For the Rebels, their quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss sued the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility to play in the 2026 season and was granted an injunction to play by a Mississippi judge.
Securing the victory was no doubt a morale booster as their conference slate continues, but the game still ended in a loss. Winning with a quarterback who was on the gridiron because of an injunction doesn’t look good for their integrity in a conference that’s already embroiled in player eligibility controversy.
On the other side, LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt’s presence on the field left everyone with more questions than answers. This is because he was listed as doubtful on the availability report just three days before the game due to back spasms. On Friday, though, Leavitt was no longer on the injury report. By some miracle, those back spasms had magically disappeared. He ended up playing the whole game, throwing for 158 yards and rushing for 63 yards. His game-ending interception felt like karma coming for the Tigers after manipulating the injury report.
Lane Kiffin’s Hostile Homecoming Was A Nightmare
Kiffin watching Leavitt’s game-ending interception wasn’t the only loss he had that night. His return to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium after leaving for LSU wasn’t friendly. Having abandoned the Rebels for the Tigers this offseason, the fans didn’t just dislike Lane; they hated him. Their hostility, including insults and derogatory signs, forced the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to deploy the largest law enforcement presence for a college football game in state history. Even that wasn’t enough to stop the hostility inside the stadium. As Kiffin took the field, he was greeted by a massive wave of boos and at one point nearly got hit with a rogue Coca-Cola bottle.
The toxicity against Kiffin didn’t stop after the game clock ended. The stadium’s in-house DJ trolled Kiffin with music including Garth Brooks’ “Calling Baton Rouge.” For a guy who frequently verbally jabs other people, getting a taste of his own medicine on a nationally televised game was brutal, to say the least.
LSU Starts SEC Play In A Hole
For LSU, this was more than a loss to Kiffin’s former team. The game proved they have resilience, as they stormed back from a 24-7 halftime deficit. It won’t make a huge difference to the playoff committee, though, because LSU still lost. Starting their conference slate this season 0-1 puts them in a hole they now have to dig out of.
Ultimately, this rivalry game was more than just a win and loss for program records. Ole Miss may have started the SEC portion of their schedule undefeated, but in reality there should be an asterisk, as their QB won eligibility through a legal loophole. LSU walks away with a destroyed ego for their coach, scrutiny over Leavitt’s eligibility, and an early loss to kick off conference play. Both teams lost the game, simple as that.
