Five takeaways from LSU football's loss to Ole Miss in "Kiffin Game"
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LSU football dropped a thriller to Ole Miss on Saturday night. With the loss, LSU falls to 2-1 and 0-1 in the SEC. The game was Week 3's main event as LSU head coach Lane Kiffin made his return to Oxford after leaving Ole Miss ahead of the College Football Playoff in 2025.
On Saturday, the Rebels got the last laugh. At least for a while. Ole Miss jumped on LSU and took a 17-0 lead. The Rebels controlled the first half in every facet of the game. In the second half, LSU roared back to tie the game at 24. But Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss responded.
Ole Miss found the end zone and went for two, making it a 32-24 game. LSU got the ball back, and it came down to a fourth-and-goal. The Ole Miss defense made a play, intercepting Sam Leavitt to seal the game.
LSU didn't leave Oxford without a couple of significant injuries. Tight end Trey'Dez Green and defensive back Da'Shawn Spears both left the game and did not return. Both were seen using crutches on the LSU sideline.
Here are five takeaways from LSU's loss at Ole Miss.
LSU doesn't have much margin for error in 2025
Saturday's loss hurt LSU's College Football Playoff chances. The margin for error is slim the rest of the way. LSU probably needs to go 10-2 to make the dance, which means it can afford only one more loss the rest of the way.
That's a tall ask given LSU's remaining schedule. In November, LSU hosts Texas and Alabama at home and travels to Tennessee. Next week, LSU faces Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium. The Aggies fell to Kentucky on Saturday, but they'll likely remain ranked ahead of Week 4.
In the 12-team playoff era, one loss doesn't kill your hopes. Two losses don't either. However, LSU has to perform the rest of the way.
Trinidad Chambliss was too much for the LSU defense
Whatever Trinidad Chambliss wanted to do vs. LSU's defense in the first half, he did. LSU had no answer. LSU forced a three-and-out on the first series thanks to a penalty and a backward pass, putting Ole Miss behind the chains. That was about LSU's only success in the first two quarters.
On the Rebels' third drive, Ole Miss marched down the field, needing only six plays to move 78 yards. Early in the second quarter, Ole Miss went 92 yards in 11 plays. Chambliss dropped dimes, throwing the ball downfield and into tight windows.
LSU scored near the end of the second, but left too much time for Chambliss. Ole Miss capped the first half with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Chambliss looked like the best player in the country, and he very well may be.
Slow starts are a problem for the LSU offense
This LSU offense doesn't start fast. Against Clemson, LSU threw a pick on the second play. In Week 2, LSU's offense slept through the first half. Those slow starts didn't matter in those games, but on Saturday, they did.
LSU dug itself a 17-point hole in the first half as Ole Miss captured the momentum. Nothing was working for LSU. LSU QB Sam Leavitt didn't look comfortable, the offensive line struggled to block, and the pass catchers weren't creating separation. Pete Golding and the Ole Miss defense had a beat on LSU.
LSU averaged just 3.38 yards per pass in the first half. That won't cut it, especially when the run game lacks explosiveness. Eventually, LSU settled in, but it was too late.
LSU needs more from its wide receivers
LSU's pass-catching group has been fine through the first three games, but LSU is missing an impact wideout on the outside. The top producers have been Winston Watkins and Trey'Dez Green, working from the slot, while LSU struggles to find consistent production at the X and Z positions.
On Saturday, Jackson Harris was targeted seven times, but caught one pass for five yards. Jayce Brown caught three passes for 23 yards. Harris and Brown were expected to be two of LSU's top transfers throughout the offseason. Both had impressive fall camps, but the duo is yet to launch.
This isn't necessarily a criticism of Brown and Harris. LSU's failure to establish a downfield passing game is partly due to the offensive line and quarterback, too. Regardless, LSU's outside wide receivers aren't scaring defenses right now, which puts stress elsewhere on the offense.
Injuries raise questions about where LSU goes from here
If this loss wasn't bad enough, two key LSU players suffered what appeared to be serious injuries. LSU tight end Trey'Dez Green and defensive back Da'Shawn Spears both left with lower-body injuries and didn't return. Both were helped off the field, and after the game, Kiffin said neither was close to coming back into the game. Green was seen using crutches on the sideline in street clothes.
If Green and Spears miss extended time, it's a significant blow to LSU. Green is the best player on the LSU offense and has been the straw that stirs the drink for LSU's passing game thus far. On defense, Spears plays the versatile STAR position and keeps the entire playbook open for LSU DC Blake Baker.
Depth is especially a concern at tight end. LSU kept Green in a non-contact jersey for much of fall camp and made an effort to add Dae'Quan Wright to the tight end room. As for Spears, LSU is slightly better situated at depth on defense, but Spears is an All-SEC-caliber player. There's no positive spin to put on this news.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Five takeaways from LSU football's loss to Ole Miss in "Kiffin Game"
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