| Quick Answer Ole Miss beat LSU 32-24 on 19 September 2026 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. It was Lane Kiffin’s first game back at Ole Miss since taking the LSU head coaching job, and his former quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, spoiled the return — throwing for 363 yards and two touchdowns and running in the go-ahead score with 6:14 left on the clock. |
The LSU vs Ole Miss 2026 clash was one of the most anticipated SEC matchups of the season as Lane Kiffin returned to Oxford to face his former team. In a high-stakes showdown, Ole Miss secured a dramatic 32-24 victory over LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Some games are about the scoreboard. This one wasn’t, as LSU traveled up to Oxford to take on Ole Miss with a unique set of circumstances. Lane Kiffin, the new head coach of LSU, used to be Ole Miss’s head coach. He led them to success for six years before deciding to jump ship to LSU, right before they made a spot in the College Football Playoff. When the schedule was released, it was immediately clear that this game was going to be a hostile environment, with fans from both sides ready to make it a memorable showdown.
It lived up to the billing, as we saw a tight game that had a number of twists and turns before being decided by a last second kick. Here’s what happened, who shone through, and what it means for the future.
Final Score at a Glance
Ole Miss 32, LSU 24
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final |
| LSU | 0 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 24 |
| Ole Miss | 10 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 32 |
The game was played on Saturday, 19 September 2026, in front of 70,033 fans — a new all-time attendance record for Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Both teams walked in unbeaten and ranked in the top ten, with No. 7 LSU facing No. 8 Ole Miss in a top-ten SEC clash that also doubled as this year’s Magnolia Bowl rivalry game.
How the Game Unfolded
Ole Miss got off to a quick start and controlled the game in the first half. Chambliss led an early field-goal drive, then set up a Kewan Lacy rushing touchdown to make it 10-0. Ole Miss added another two scores before halftime, a 21-yard touchdown pass to Traylon Ray and a 20-yard strike to Deuce Alexander with just seconds left on the clock, to build a commanding 24-7 lead heading into halftime.
The game then turned right around. LSU didn’t score a point in the third quarter, and then all of a sudden found nothing but scores on the board. The Tigers put together two scoring drives to pull within 24-21, then tied the game at 24-24 early in the fourth quarter. For a few minutes, it looked like LSU might complete one of the bigger comebacks of the season.
Ole Miss had other plans. With their star running back Kewan Lacy off the field injured, Chambliss took the game into his own hands. He faked a handoff, cut against the grain, and outran an LSU defender 14 yards to the pylon for the go-ahead score. A two-point conversion made it 32-24 with 6:14 remaining.
LSU got one more shot. The Tigers drove all the way to the Ole Miss 6-yard line with a shot to tie or win it. But on fourth-and-goal, LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt’s pass was batted into the air by Ole Miss’s Kam Franklin and picked off by Jaylon Braxton in the end zone, sealing the win with under a minute to play.
Key Players Who Decided the Game
Trinidad Chambliss (QB, Ole Miss) — The obvious star of the night. Chambliss threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns, added a rushing score, and made the single biggest play of the game when Ole Miss needed it most. What makes his story even better: Kiffin was the coach who originally recruited him from a Division II school and turned him into a starting SEC quarterback — only to face him from the opposite sideline a year later.
Traylon Ray (WR, Ole Miss) — Chambliss’s go-to target all night, finishing with seven catches for 115 yards, including a big 36-yard grab that set up an early touchdown.
Sam Leavitt (QB, LSU) — Leavitt threw for 344 yards and a touchdown and led LSU’s furious second-half comeback, but three interceptions — including the game-ending one — proved costly.
Dilin Jones (RB, LSU) — Jones scored two rushing touchdowns and was a key part of LSU’s third-quarter surge back into the game.
Jaylon Braxton (DB, Ole Miss) — His game-sealing interception in the end zone, off a ball batted by teammate Kam Franklin, ended LSU’s last real chance to win it.
The Kiffin Storyline
You can’t talk about this game without talking about Lane Kiffin. It was his first trip back to Oxford since leaving Ole Miss for LSU, and the reception was as fiery as one would expect. Afterward Kiffin had nothing but praise for the fans, saying, “It was an emotional game for a lot of reasons. There were a lot of life-changing experiences here. A lot of really good people that helped me through some really hard times.” Pete Golding, coach of Ole Miss, had the benefit of seeing the game from the other side. He praised his players for focusing on the task at hand, despite the distractions of what was happening around them, regarding their former boss’s return.
What’s Next for Both Teams
The loss doesn’t end LSU’s season by any means, but it does put an early dent in their College Football Playoff hopes. LSU heads back to Baton Rouge to host Texas A&M next. Ole Miss, now 3-0 and 1-0 in SEC play, travels to Florida and looks like a genuine contender for the SEC title race after knocking off a top-ten rival in style.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of LSU vs Ole Miss?
Ole Miss won 32-24 on 19 September 2026 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
Who was the star player in the LSU vs Ole Miss game?
Trinidad Chambliss was the standout, throwing for 363 yards and two touchdowns and running for the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
Why was this game such a big deal?
It marked Lane Kiffin’s first game back at Ole Miss since leaving the programme to become LSU’s head coach, adding extra emotion and attention to an already important top-ten SEC matchup.
Did LSU almost come back and win?
Yes. LSU trailed 24-7 at halftime but tied the game at 24-24 early in the fourth quarter before Ole Miss retook the lead for good.
What happens next for LSU and Ole Miss?
LSU hosts Texas A&M next in Baton Rouge, while Ole Miss travels to Florida looking to build on a statement win.
