This victory marked LSU’s first lead of the entire match as fans rushed the field to celebrate a win that may boost the Tigers’ chances of being in the College Football Playoff discussions. Despite facing challenges throughout the game and throwing two interceptions, Nussmeier bounced back significantly, ending with 337 passing yards and three touchdown passes, two of which came in the last moments of the game.
Jaxson Dart had an impressive performance for Mississippi, throwing for 284 yards and securing a touchdown, while Ulysses Bentley IV added a noteworthy 50-yard rushing touchdown on a pivotal fourth-down play. This loss sets back Mississippi’s aspirations for a conference title and a potential CFP invitation, dropping them to 5-2 overall.
Mississippi was poised to clinch the win in the closing minutes of regulation. Nussmeier, however, found Mason Taylor on a fourth-and-6 attempt which kept LSU’s hopes alive, culminating in a 23-yard touchdown to Aaron Anderson with just 27 seconds to spare. After an initial overtime drive by Mississippi resulted in a field goal, Nussmeier wasted no time, delivering a critical pass to Lacy for the win.
Last season, in a high-scoring matchup, Ole Miss had thrived offensively, amassing 706 yards in their 55-49 victory over LSU. This time, however, LSU coach Brian Kelly was determined to see improvements from his defense, which they executed effectively.
The Tigers dominated defensively, applying consistent pressure on Dart with six sacks and one interception. LSU managed to limit the Rebels significantly below their usual scoring average of 44 points. Ole Miss had opportunities to extend their lead but was hindered by missed chances. For instance, Tre Harris dropped a clear deep pass, and a missed 32-yard field goal only added to the regrets. A defensive stop also prevented the Rebels from converting on a fourth-and-1 situation after an interception by Jamarious Brown went uncapitalized.
Mississippi started strong, taking a 10-0 lead with a 49-yard field goal by Davis complemented by Bentley’s notable touchdown. LSU fought back with a scoring pass from Nussmeier to tight end Tray’Dez Green, and despite trailing, they managed to finish the half on a high note with two field goals, narrowing the score to 17-13.
In terms of lessons learned, Mississippi faced another road loss as favorites in the SEC, prompting reflection on their performance. In contrast, LSU showcased the ability to put together a solid defensive effort against a top tier offense, especially following a bye week preparation.
Throughout the match, there were moments of contention as fans expressed skepticism regarding Ole Miss players going down with apparent injuries during crucial plays, raising suspicions about the team potentially feigning injuries for strategic breaks. One notable incident involved defensive end Jared Ivey, who returned quickly to the field after being treated, leading to frustration among supporters.
In the wake of these allegations, the Mississippi program released a statement acknowledging their awareness of the discussions regarding injury feigning. They assured that they would be providing necessary medical documentation to officials and would engage with players to uphold integrity in their conduct.
Looking ahead, Mississippi is set to face Oklahoma at home on October 26, while LSU will head to Arkansas this Saturday.