LSU vs Ole Miss: Winners, Losers from Trinidad Chambliss Spoiling Lane Kiffin’s Return to Oxford

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The moment Lane Kiffin abandoned the Ole Miss Rebels ahead of the College Football Playoff to become the LSU Tigers head coach, the entire world started counting down the days to his return to Oxford. We got that on Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, with a game we won’t soon forget.

Let’s dive into the winners and losers from LSU vs Ole Miss as the Rebels celebrate a 32-24 victory.

Winner: Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss Rebels

LSU vs Ole Miss, Ole Miss Rebels, Trinidad Chambliss — Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

That’s the best quarterback in college football. Facing the coach that brought him over to Ole Miss, Heisman Trophy front-runner Trinidad Chambliss demonstrated on Saturday night why the real star of that offense from last season resides in Oxford. In the first half alone, Trinidad Chambliss put up 248 passing yards and 2 touchdowns on 21 completions and he engineered a surgical two-minute drive before halftime to answer LSU’s first score.

While Chambliss was held in check by LSU in the third quarter, he came through when it mattered most in the fourth. He was methodical on the game-winning drive, maintaining his composure in a critical situation and standing in the pocket to make pinpoint throws with bodies around him. Then, when the time came, Chambliss took it in himself for the game-deciding score. This is QB1 in the country.

Loser: Blake Baker, LSU Tigers Defensive Coordinator

LSU vs Ole Miss, LSU Tigers — Mandatory Credit: Glenn Beil-USA TODAY Sports

Considering the track record for LSU Tigers defensive coordinator Blake Baker and the knowledge Lane Kiffin could provide him about the Rebels’ offense, we had our expectations reasonably high entering the night. After LSU stopped the opening drive, it soon became apparent that Baker had no answers for Chambliss. Ole Miss scored on its next four consecutive drives, putting up 304 total yards and 24 points in that four-drive span to take a 24-7 lead into halftime. Baker’s halftime adjustments seemed to work in the third quarter, but then his defense gave up that 13-play, 74-yard touchdown drive that decided it. It certainly helps that Mississippi had the best player on the field tonight, but Baker’s entire unit also got outplayed, and he was outcoached.

Winner: Traylon Ray, WR, Ole Miss Rebels

LSU vs Ole Miss, Ole Miss Rebels, Traylon Ray — Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

With LSU doing whatever it could to contain wide receiver Deuce Alexander on Saturday night, that opened up an opportunity for Traylor Ray. The 6-foot-2 wideout made his presence felt early with a sensational catch in double coverage that set up a scoring drive, one of the many times tonight in Oxford that he made the Tigers’ defensive backs look foolish. Ray entered the night with just 56 receiving yards on 4 receptions and his 115-yard performance along with his second-quarter touchdown proved crucial in Ole Miss pulling off this monumental victory.

Loser: Injuries

LSU vs Ole Miss, Ole Miss Rebels, LSU Tigers — Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

With LSU doing whatever it could to contain wide receiver Deuce Alexander on Saturday night, that opened up an opportunity for Traylon Ray. The 6-foot-2 wideout made his presence felt early with a sensational catch in double coverage that set up a scoring drive, one of the many times tonight in Oxford that he made the Tigers’ defensive backs look foolish. Ray entered the night with just 56 receiving yards on 4 receptions, and his 115-yard performance along with his second-quarter touchdown proved crucial in Ole Miss pulling off this monumental victory.

Winner: Dilin Jones, RB, LSU Tigers

The only standout from the LSU Tigers offense on Saturday night was Dilin Jones. He was a workhorse for Lane Kiffin, taking 23 carries, and he made the most of them. While Jones only had one explosive run (20 yards), he always found ways to fight for that extra gain, and those carries meant creating shorter down-and-distances for Sam Leavitt. Unfortunately for Kiffin, his quarterback couldn’t take advantage, and it’s become a bit of a trend where Jones and this ground attack are asked to make up for a passing game that isn’t playing up to expectations nor its collective salaries.

Loser: Sam Leavitt, QB, LSU Tigers

LSU vs Ole Miss — Sep 19, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Louisiana State Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt now has 5 interceptions in three games. Even if you want to blame a two-hour weather delay and nerves on the first one (Week 1) and a tipped pass for his game-ending pick tonight, his inability to protect the football is becoming a real problem. Equally concerning? The fact that he has completed just 32 of 55 passes (58.1% completion rate) against Power 4 defenses this season, all the while averaging just 7.1 yards per attempt. He certainly brings plenty to the table as a runner, but it is even fair to question how long that will last considering the amount of big hits he takes. One thing Saturday night seemed to prove, LSU cannot win a national championship or even reach the College Football Playoff Semifinal with Leavitt as its quarterback.

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