LSU left Oxford with a loss, but its response to adversity deserves attention. Down 24–7 at halftime, the Tigers fought back to tie the game before falling 32–24 to Ole Miss on September 19.
The finish hurt. Still, LSU’s running game and second-half recovery offered real positives. The Tigers turned a game that threatened to get away into a contest they had a chance to rescue late.
Dilin Jones Gives LSU a Foundation
Dilin Jones delivered one of LSU’s strongest individual performances, rushing for 106 yards. His 2-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Tigers their first points and capped a 17-play, 75-yard drive.
That possession showed the value of staying patient. LSU sustained a long march instead of needing a single explosive play to get moving, offering a glimpse of the physical offense it can build around.
The Tigers finished with 172 rushing yards. Jones supplied the largest share, giving LSU a productive option on a night when establishing an offensive rhythm took time.
A Second-Half Response Worth Building On
LSU outscored Ole Miss 14–0 in the third quarter. Sam Leavitt’s 4-yard touchdown run helped launch the comeback, and the Tigers eventually scored 17 consecutive points to pull even at 24.
That stretch was LSU’s best argument for optimism. The offense produced points while the defense supplied the stops needed to make those possessions matter. Neither unit could have brought the Tigers back alone.
Leavitt finished with 158 passing yards, while Trey’Dez Green led LSU with 60 receiving yards. LSU also converted nine of 17 third-down opportunities, keeping drives alive often enough to work its way back into contention.
Run Defense Provides Another Positive
LSU allowed 63 net rushing yards. The defense’s scoreless third quarter was especially valuable, giving the offense room to erase the halftime deficit.
Those strengths do not make the entire defensive performance a success. They do, however, identify something concrete to carry forward: LSU could limit the ground game and put together a sustained stretch of stops under pressure.
Turn the Rally Into a Complete Performance
LSU’s final push reached the Ole Miss 5-yard line, but the Tigers could not finish the comeback. That leaves a clear challenge: bring the urgency and execution of the rally into the opening possessions.
Jones’ production and the team’s second-half response give LSU something useful to build on. The next step is turning those stretches into a complete game—and a win.
Sources
LSU Football Report 