A Look Back at the History Between LSU and Ole Miss

A Look Back at the History Between LSU and Ole Miss

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A Look Back at the History Between LSU and Ole Miss
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – SEPTEMBER 27: A general view of the Magnolia Bowl trophey during the game between the Mississippi Rebels and the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 27, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Breakups are never fun. Someone always gets their feelings hurt, and in the aftermath, things can get messy. A split heading into the playoffs, a heated watch party at the airport, recruits, players and coaches switching sides: LSU and Ole Miss don’t need a century-plus of history to hate each other this week, but it sure adds fuel to the fire.

The most anticipated week of the 2026 LSU football season has arrived. Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford sets up what is likely to be one of the most radioactive installments in Magnolia Bowl history.

Turning back the clock, LSU and Ole Miss first met in 1894 in Baton Rouge, where the Rebels defeated the Tigers 26-6. From there, give or take a few vacated wins, the all-time series sits at 64-43-4 in LSU’s favor. For both programs, the Magnolia Bowl is their second most-played rivalry, with Mississippi State ironically holding the top spot for each.

Adding to the magnitude, Saturday marks the first time both LSU and Ole Miss enter the Magnolia Bowl ranked in the top 10 since 1962, when the Tigers were ranked fourth and Ole Miss sixth. The Rebels took that game 15-7.

Both programs have had their stretches of success and disappointment. The longest win streak in rivalry history is eight, LSU’s, spanning 1928 to 1937. Ole Miss’ longest streak is six, spanning 1952 to 1957, a feat LSU has matched twice outside of its longest run.

The NCAA recognizes six national championships between the two programs, five for LSU and one for Ole Miss (LSU does not claim 1908). Leaving out 1908, the Tigers and Rebels have met in every one of their championship seasons. In 1958, LSU defeated Ole Miss 14-0 at the midpoint of an undefeated season. In 1959, the two met twice, once on Halloween in the game made famous by Billy Cannon’s 89-yard punt return touchdown that gave LSU a 7-3 win, and again in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, where Ole Miss won 21-0 for the only national championship the program is recognized for by the NCAA. In LSU’s 2003, 2007 and 2019 championship runs, the two teams also met, with LSU winning all three: 17-14, 41-24 and 58-37.

Lane Kiffin made history last season, becoming the first Ole Miss head coach to beat LSU three times since Billy Brewer, who needed 11 years to do it. Kiffin needed just six. Now on the LSU sideline, Kiffin is not the only coach to have seen both sides of this rivalry. Ed Orgeron led Ole Miss from 2005 to 2007 before later guiding LSU to the 2019 national championship as head coach from 2016 to 2021. Orgeron is back on staff with the Tigers this season as a special assistant for recruiting and defense.

In that 2025 matchup, Ole Miss beat LSU 24-19 in Oxford. Garrett Nussmeier completed 21 of 34 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, and threw an interception caught by Wydett Williams Jr. Zavion Thomas led LSU receivers with three catches for 63 yards, while Nic Anderson caught the touchdown. The Tigers’ run game struggled, with Harlem Berry leading the way at 22 yards on seven carries, one for a touchdown. A.J. Haulcy led the LSU defense with 13 tackles. For Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss completed 23 of 39 passes for 314 yards and a touchdown, with an interception picked off by PJ Woodland. Cayden Lee led Rebel receivers with four catches for 70 yards and a score. Kewan Lacy led the ground game with 87 yards on 23 carries and a touchdown. Among players who have since switched sides, Winston Watkins Jr. recorded three catches for 38 yards, TJ Dottery had five tackles, and Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper did not record a stat.

Both teams opened the season with statement wins over Power Four foes. LSU throttled Clemson 51-10 in Kiffin’s Tiger debut. Ole Miss survived a shootout with Louisville in Nashville, 41-38. Both teams faced Group of Six competition last week, with LSU defeating Louisiana Tech 45-14 and Ole Miss cruising past Charlotte 41-9. Both teams head into this matchup with 2-0 records and no shortage of emotion on the line.

LSU and Ole Miss will meet for the second year in a row in Oxford, Mississippi, at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, with ESPN’s College GameDay on-site. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. on ABC.

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