Oxford, Mississippi — September 20, 2026: Lane Kiffin’s highly anticipated return to Oxford delivered one of the biggest storylines of the 2026 college football season, but it was No. 8 Ole Miss that came away with a 32–24 victory over No. 7 LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday night.
LSU vs. Ole Miss Final Score
No. 8 Ole Miss 32, No. 7 LSU 24
Ole Miss improved to 3–0 overall and 1–0 in SEC play, while LSU fell to 2–1 overall and 0–1 in conference play.
Lane Kiffin’s Return to Oxford
The game had been circled on the college football calendar since Kiffin left Ole Miss for LSU.
The storyline became even bigger because several players and coaches had connections to both programs. The atmosphere around Oxford was unusually intense, with significant media attention and additional security preparations surrounding the matchup.
The 64,000-seat Vaught-Hemingway Stadium also set a single-game attendance record of 70,033, according to Ole Miss Athletics.
Ole Miss Takes Control Early
Ole Miss established control in the first half.
The Rebels opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal from Lucas Carneiro before Kewan Lacy added a five-yard rushing touchdown.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss then connected with Traylon Ray for a 21-yard touchdown, giving Ole Miss a 17–0 advantage.
LSU finally answered when Dilin Jones scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown, but Ole Miss responded immediately before halftime.
With only seconds remaining in the second quarter, Chambliss found Deuce Alexander for a 20-yard touchdown, sending the Rebels into halftime with a 24–7 lead.
LSU’s Second-Half Comeback
LSU completely changed the momentum after halftime.
Sam Leavitt scored on a four-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 24–14. Later in the third quarter, Leavitt connected with Winston Watkins Jr. on a 26-yard touchdown pass.
That brought LSU within three points at 24–21.
The Tigers then completed the comeback early in the fourth quarter when Scott Starzyk converted a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 24–24.
Trinidad Chambliss Delivers in the Fourth Quarter
With the game tied, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss produced the decisive drive.
Chambliss directed a 13-play, 75-yard possession that ended with his 14-yard touchdown run with 6:14 remaining.
Ole Miss then successfully converted the two-point attempt, extending the lead to 32–24.
LSU had one final opportunity late in the game, but Sam Leavitt’s pass was intercepted by Ole Miss defensive back Jaylon Braxton in the end zone with about a minute remaining.
That turnover effectively ended LSU’s comeback attempt.
Trinidad Chambliss Leads Ole Miss
Chambliss was one of the central figures in the victory.
He completed 33 of 48 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns, while also contributing a crucial rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Traylon Ray led Ole Miss receivers with 115 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Deuce Alexander finished with 60 receiving yards and a touchdown.
LSU vs. Ole Miss: Key Statistics
Ole Miss finished with 426 total yards, compared with 330 for LSU.
The Rebels produced 363 passing yards, while LSU had 158 passing yards. LSU did have the advantage on the ground, rushing for 172 yards compared with 63 for Ole Miss.
Quarter-by-Quarter Score
| Quarter | LSU | Ole Miss |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 0 | 10 |
| 2nd | 7 | 14 |
| 3rd | 14 | 0 |
| 4th | 3 | 8 |
| Final | 24 | 32 |
Where to Follow LSU and Ole Miss Updates
Although the game is now finished, readers can use these official and established pages for the final box score, statistics, schedules and future team updates:
- ESPN LSU vs. Ole Miss game page: Follow the final score, box score and game details
- Ole Miss Athletics: Official Ole Miss game recap and statistics
- LSU Athletics: Official LSU game recap and team updates
- NCAA College Football: College football scores, schedules and updates
What’s Next for LSU and Ole Miss?
Ole Miss now turns its attention to Florida, with the Rebels scheduled to travel to Gainesville for their next game.
LSU returns to Death Valley to face Texas A&M next Saturday, according to LSU Athletics.
Final Takeaway
Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford produced the high-stakes SEC drama that college football fans had anticipated. LSU erased a 17-point halftime deficit and tied the game at 24, but Ole Miss answered with a late touchdown and two-point conversion before sealing the victory with a final interception.
For Ole Miss, the 32–24 victory extended its home winning streak and gave the Rebels an important SEC victory. For LSU, the defeat dropped the Tigers to 2–1 and left Kiffin and his team looking ahead to the next conference challenge.
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