Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford became one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 college football season, but Trinidad Chambliss and the Ole Miss Rebels had the final say.
No. 8 Ole Miss defeated No. 7 LSU 32-24 on Saturday night, Sept. 19, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. The result gave the Rebels a memorable victory over Kiffin, who left Ole Miss for LSU after the 2025 season.
The highly anticipated LSU vs Ole Miss 2026 matchup featured a packed stadium, ESPN College GameDay in Oxford and intense attention surrounding Kiffin’s first game against his former team.
Lane Kiffin Faces Ole Miss in Emotional Return
The focus before the LSU Ole Miss game was heavily centered on Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin previously coached the Ole Miss football program and helped establish the Rebels as a major SEC contender. His departure for LSU created considerable controversy because he left before Ole Miss completed its College Football Playoff run.
That made Saturday’s Ole Miss vs LSU 2026 matchup more than a normal SEC game.
Kiffin was booed by Ole Miss fans during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast and again when he entered the field before kickoff. During LSU’s warmups, Kiffin also threw a football into the stands, adding another memorable moment to an already emotional night.
Trinidad Chambliss Leads Ole Miss Past LSU
The biggest difference in the LSU vs Ole Miss score was Trinidad Chambliss.
The Ole Miss quarterback completed 21 of 27 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. ESPN reported that Chambliss engineered the decisive 75-yard drive after LSU had erased a 17-point deficit.
Chambliss’ performance was especially notable because of his connection to Kiffin. Kiffin recruited Chambliss from Division II Ferris State to Ole Miss, helping turn him into a prominent SEC quarterback.
For fans searching how old is Trinidad Chambliss, he was born Aug. 24, 2002, making him 24 years old as of September 2026. Ole Miss lists his hometown as Grand Rapids, Michigan, and his previous college as Ferris State.
Where Is Trinidad Chambliss From?
Trinidad Chambliss is from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and attended Forest Hills Northern High School. Before transferring to Ole Miss, he played at Ferris State, where he helped the Bulldogs win Division II national championships.
His development at Ole Miss became one of the major storylines of the Kiffin era, making his performance against Kiffin’s new team particularly significant.
LSU vs Ole Miss Score
The final LSU Ole Miss score was:
Ole Miss 32, LSU 24
Ole Miss controlled the opening half and took a 24-7 lead into halftime. LSU then produced a dramatic second-half comeback, scoring 17 unanswered points to tie the game at 24.
The Rebels answered in the fourth quarter.
Chambliss completed the decisive drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown, and Ole Miss converted the ensuing two-point attempt to take a 32-24 advantage. LSU then reached the red zone late, but the Rebels’ defense stopped the Tigers to preserve the victory.
LSU Football Comeback Falls Short
The LSU football team struggled offensively early but responded after halftime.
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt scored on a four-yard run in the third quarter before connecting with Winston Watkins Jr. on a 26-yard touchdown pass. A fourth-quarter field goal tied the game at 24.
However, LSU could not finish the comeback.
The loss dropped LSU to 2-1, while Ole Miss improved to 3-0 and 1-0 in SEC play.
Ole Miss Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss Shines
The Ole Miss quarterback was the central figure in the victory.
Chambliss entered the game as one of the SEC’s most watched players after his strong 2025 season. His ability to make plays through the air and on the ground gave the Rebels a major offensive threat against LSU.
Ole Miss also received important contributions from wide receiver Traylon Ray and Deuce Alexander. FOX Sports listed Ray among the game’s top performers, while Alexander caught a touchdown pass from Chambliss during the first half.
Pete Golding’s First Big Test as Ole Miss Coach
The victory was also an important moment for Pete Golding, who is now the Ole Miss head coach.
Golding remained with the Rebels after Kiffin’s departure and took over as head coach. He faced the difficult task of preparing Ole Miss for the arrival of his former boss in a nationally televised top-10 matchup.
The Rebels entered the game ranked No. 8, while LSU was ranked No. 7.
Ole Miss’ defense ultimately made the crucial plays when LSU threatened to complete its comeback.
Ole Miss Football and the Oxford Atmosphere
The atmosphere surrounding the Ole Miss football program was one of the major stories of the weekend.
ESPN’s College GameDay came to Oxford for Week 3, with the show broadcasting from The Grove. The matchup marked the first time since 2021 that College GameDay had visited Ole Miss.
The game itself was played at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, where Ole Miss announced a record attendance of 70,033 for the matchup. The victory also extended the Rebels’ home winning streak to 14 games.
Fans celebrated with the familiar “Hotty Toddy” tradition after the final whistle.
LSU vs Ole Miss 2026: TV Channel and How to Watch
For fans searching where to watch LSU vs Ole Miss, the game was televised nationally on ABC, with streaming available through ESPN platforms.
The official Ole Miss game information listed the kickoff for 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 19, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford.
So, searches such as what channel is the LSU game on today, what channel is LSU playing on today, LSU vs Ole Miss channel, what time is the LSU Ole Miss game and LSU game time all pointed to the same Saturday night SEC showdown.
LSU Tigers Football vs Ole Miss Rebels Football Match Player Stats
Some notable player statistics from the Ole Miss Rebels football vs LSU Tigers football matchup included:
| Player | Team | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Trinidad Chambliss | Ole Miss | 21-of-27, 363 passing yards, 2 TD passes, rushing TD |
| Traylon Ray | Ole Miss | Major receiving contribution and TD |
| Deuce Alexander | Ole Miss | 3 receptions, 33 yards, 1 TD |
| Sam Leavitt | LSU | Passing and rushing TDs during LSU comeback |
| Dilin Jones | LSU | Rushing TD |
| Winston Watkins Jr. | LSU | 26-yard receiving TD |
The available game data confirms Chambliss’ major passing performance and Alexander’s touchdown reception, while ESPN’s scoring summary documents LSU’s second-half comeback and Chambliss’ fourth-quarter rushing touchdown.
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss and LSU: What Comes Next?
The Ole Miss and LSU rivalry now has another memorable chapter.
Ole Miss entered the 2026 season with a new Ole Miss coach, Pete Golding, while Kiffin began his first season as LSU coach after leaving Oxford.
The 2026 game added another layer to the history between the programs, particularly because Chambliss — a quarterback Kiffin helped recruit and develop — delivered the decisive performance against his new LSU team.
For LSU, the result becomes an early SEC setback. For Ole Miss, it moves the Rebels to 3-0 and gives them a significant conference victory.
Lane Kiffin Wife Search
Searches for Lane Kiffin wife also increased around the LSU-Ole Miss matchup because of the attention surrounding Kiffin’s family and return to Oxford. Kiffin and Layla Kiffin were previously married and divorced in 2016; recent reporting has also discussed their family and appearances together.
Ole Miss vs LSU Prediction and Final Result
Before kickoff, the LSU vs Ole Miss prediction discussion focused on two undefeated top-10 teams, Kiffin’s return and the quarterback matchup.
The actual result settled the debate on the field:
Ole Miss 32, LSU 24.
The Rebels led 24-7 at halftime, LSU fought back to tie the game, and Chambliss responded with the decisive fourth-quarter touchdown drive.
Ole Miss and LSU Schedule Context
The LSU football schedule 2026 had the Tigers opening the season with wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech before traveling to Oxford. LSU entered the Ole Miss game 2-0.
The Ole Miss football schedule began with a win over Louisville before victories against Charlotte and LSU, moving the Rebels to 3-0.
For fans following NCAAF scores, sports scores today, LSU score today, Ole Miss score, LSU football score and Ole Miss football score, the headline result from Oxford was clear: Ole Miss defeated LSU 32-24.
The loss also gives the Tigers an early SEC challenge to overcome, while the Rebels can build on a dramatic victory in front of a record crowd.
Final: Ole Miss 32, LSU 24.
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