All offseason, the hysteria around September 19th came from every side. Some of the national media folks were painting Oxford, Mississippi, as a war zone once Coach Kiffin made his return to Ole Miss; others were excited for the opportunity for closure and a chance to move on from the mockery that was brought upon the football program in the way the former Head Coach left for an interconference rival and tried to take everything, but the kitchen sink with him to Baton Rouge in the process. Yet, as much hysteria was made of the possible environment being hostile and unsafe for families, Saturday was just the opposite. 

Saturday night inside Vaught-Hemingway Stadium went from a mass-hysteria event led by national pundits to a celebration of Ole Miss football and the great state of Mississippi. What people tend to forget in these situations is that, yes, hard feelings might be felt and things might be said, but at the end of the day, Ole Miss football is Ole Miss football no matter who the coach is or who the players on the roster are. Ole Miss, and really any other program, is bigger than one person, and we saw evidence of that on Saturday night as Ole Miss got the better end of the fight with LSU and now has the closure to move forward into a bright future of Rebels football under the leadership of Head Coach Pete Golding. 

The closure that Ole Miss needed to move on from the events of last season not only happened on Saturday night, but it turned into a realization that not only the football program, but the athletic department as a whole is in a position now to close the gap, placing Ole Miss near the top of the pecking order in college athletics. What Athletics Director Keith Carter has done with Ole Miss athletics, even before Coach Kiffin left, has set the stage for a future nearly unrecognizable from a past that nearly broke the hearts of every Rebel fan alive. Now, with an athletic department that understands the fans and is led by the names of Coach Pete Golding, Coach Mike Bianco, Coach Chris Beard, Coach Yo, and even a national championship-winning Head Golf Coach Chris Malloy, Rebel Nation has a lot to be excited about in the near future. 

As for the game itself, on the short end, Ole Miss did what they had to do to earn a massive victory and didn’t let the moment of facing their former Head Coach get the best of them. 

Let’s talk about the longer version of the game itself. 

Starting with Trinidad Chambliss. Trinidad Chambliss did what Trinidad does and scorched the LSU defense. Chambliss finished his day with 33-48, 363 yards, two touchdowns, and only an interception. In his two years at Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss has become one of the toughest guys in the country to scheme for, as he can do it all for the Rebels: beat you on the ground and then ,through the air. Saturday night, Trinidad Chambliss gave the LSU defense too much to handle as his former head coach took the brunt of the wrath. 

Staying on the topic of the offensive unit, Kewan Lacy was on pace for another 100-yard rushing game before exiting in the third quarter with an apparent shoulder injury. Lacy finished his day with 43 yards and a touchdown for the Rebels. As for his injury, he’s uncertain for the Florida game, and per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, he shouldn’t miss much time. 

On defense, Ole Miss executed better in the first half than in the second, but got the crucial interception at the end to secure the victory for the Rebels. Blake Purchase and Will Echols were the only two Ole Miss defenders with sacks on Saturday, while Sharif Denson and Tah’J Butler led the way in total tackles with eight each. However, Will Echols was the defensive MVP of the night, and Jaylon Braxton was the Rebels’ hero with an end-zone interception to secure the Ole Miss victory over LSU. 

Lastly, credit to Coach Pete Golding and his staff for a game plan that not only kept his guys disciplined but also positioned Ole Miss for victory. For years, the rhetoric has been that Coach Golding was not Head Coach material, yet since taking over as Head Coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, Coach Golding has only lost one game, and that loss came within a few points of playing for a National Championship against Indiana. What people tend to forget in this modern age is that you don’t need a flashy Head Coach; you just need a football guy who knows and understands the game. An added bonus would be a guy like Coach Golding who knows the game, understands his fan base, and, most importantly, represents generations of families who have cared for the Rebels through all circumstances. We saw evidence of his brilliance as a Head Coach on Saturday night after a late Ole Miss touchdown took the lead over LSU; Coach Golding decided to go for two, and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back and eventually led to a 32-24 victory over LSU to win the 2026 Magnolia Bowl. 

Ole Miss returns to action on Saturday afternoon as they head to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators inside the Swamp. 

Photo Credits- Ole Miss football on X