LSU Football Report

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly From LSU’s 32–24 Loss to Ole Miss

LSU’s first loss of the Lane Kiffin era contained enough encouraging moments to show what this team can become—and enough breakdowns to explain why the Tigers left Oxford without a victory.

LSU fell behind 17–0 and trailed 24–7 at halftime before scoring 17 consecutive points to tie the game. The Tigers eventually reached the Ole Miss 5-yard line with an opportunity to force overtime, but the drive ended with a tipped pass and an interception.

Here is the good, the bad and the truly ugly from LSU’s 32–24 loss.

The Good

LSU refused to quit

LSU could have folded after allowing a touchdown with five seconds remaining in the first half. Instead, the Tigers responded with their best stretch of the game.

LSU outscored Ole Miss 14–0 in the third quarter. Ja’Keem Jackson intercepted Trinidad Chambliss and returned the ball 10 yards to the Ole Miss 33. Six plays later, Sam Leavitt scored on a 4-yard run.

After an Ole Miss field-goal attempt missed, LSU drove 64 yards in seven plays. Leavitt finished the possession with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Winston Watkins Jr. on third-and-13.

Scott Starzyk’s 23-yard field goal then completed a 17–0 LSU run and tied the game at 24 with 11:21 remaining.

“I’m proud of the way the guys battled back,” Kiffin said after the game.

The comeback did not produce a victory, but it demonstrated that LSU can respond when a game begins moving in the wrong direction.

Dilin Jones provided the offensive foundation

Jones rushed 23 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and scored LSU’s first touchdown on a 2-yard run.

Jones helped the Tigers finish with 172 rushing yards on 43 attempts. Leavitt added 63 net rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 officially credited carries, a total that includes two sacks.

Ole Miss finished with only 63 net rushing yards on 25 attempts. LSU therefore held a 109-yard advantage on the ground and averaged 4.0 yards per rushing attempt to the Rebels’ 2.5.

That physical advantage is something LSU can carry into the remainder of its SEC schedule.

LSU converted important downs

The Tigers converted nine of 17 third downs, a success rate of 52.9 percent. LSU also converted two of three fourth-down attempts.

Those conversions allowed LSU to maintain possession for 30 minutes, 15 seconds—30 seconds longer than Ole Miss—and helped the Tigers run 70 offensive plays.

LSU’s longest first-half possession was a 17-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 7:52. It was not explosive, but it showed that the Tigers could move the ball methodically when they stayed ahead of the chains.

Green and Watkins produced when targeted

Trey’Dez Green led LSU with four receptions for 60 yards, while Watkins caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Together, they accounted for seven of LSU’s 16 completions and 114 of its 158 passing yards. Watkins’ touchdown was LSU’s longest completed pass of the game.

Green’s injury during the fourth quarter was significant because LSU lost its leading receiver just as the game reached its most important possessions.

The Bad

LSU’s passing attack remained limited

Leavitt completed 16 of 27 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and one interception. That was a completion rate of 59.3 percent and an average of 5.9 yards per attempt.

LSU did not complete a pass longer than 26 yards. Green and Watkins combined for 114 receiving yards, leaving the rest of the Tigers with only 44.

Leavitt was effective as a runner, but LSU needed more production through the air against an Ole Miss defense that concentrated on controlling the running game and creating pressure on passing downs.

Kiffin credited Leavitt’s work with his feet but acknowledged that LSU’s offense was out of rhythm early.

Ole Miss controlled the overall yardage

Ole Miss outgained LSU 426–330 and averaged 5.8 yards per play to LSU’s 4.7.

The Rebels recorded 25 first downs, including 17 through the air. LSU finished with 19 first downs, nine of which came on passes.

Chambliss completed 33 of 48 attempts for 363 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Traylon Ray caught seven passes for 115 yards and a score, while Caleb Odom added five receptions for 88 yards.

LSU contained the Ole Miss running game, but the Tigers could not consistently prevent Chambliss from completing passes and extending drives.

LSU started far too slowly

LSU’s first three possessions ended in punts. Those drives produced minus-5 yards, 8 yards and 28 yards.

By the time LSU began its first touchdown drive, Ole Miss already led 17–0.

The Tigers eventually found answers, but spotting a top-10 opponent a 17-point advantage on the road created a margin for error that was almost impossible to overcome.

Injuries struck at important positions

Safety Dashawn Spears left early, forcing LSU to adjust in the secondary. Green later left after his 19-yard reception helped move the Tigers into scoring position.

Kiffin identified both losses as important factors after the game. Their statuses will be closely watched as LSU prepares for Texas A&M.

The Ugly

Ole Miss moved the ball almost at will before halftime

Ole Miss produced 289 yards in the first half and scored on four consecutive possessions after punting on its opening drive.

Those scoring drives covered 59, 78, 92 and 75 yards. LSU repeatedly forced Ole Miss to travel most of the field, but the defense still could not get off the field.

The Rebels went into halftime leading 24–7 despite LSU possessing the ball for nearly eight minutes on its only touchdown drive.

LSU surrendered a crushing touchdown before halftime

Jones’ touchdown reduced the deficit to 17–7 with 1:57 remaining in the second quarter. LSU was also scheduled to receive the second-half kickoff.

The Tigers needed one stop to enter halftime with momentum.

Instead, Ole Miss drove 75 yards in eight plays without using a timeout. Chambliss completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Deuce Alexander with five seconds remaining.

That possession turned a manageable 10-point deficit into a 17-point hole and forced LSU to spend most of the second half repairing the damage.

The defense could not finish the comeback

After LSU tied the game, Ole Miss answered with a 13-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 5:07.

The Rebels converted a fourth-and-1 during the possession. Chambliss later scored on a 14-yard run, beating LSU to the left pylon with 6:14 remaining.

LSU then committed two consecutive offside penalties before the two-point attempt. The second penalty did not move the ball because it was already at the 1, but it gave Ole Miss another uncontested look at LSU’s alignment. JT Lindsey converted the attempt to make the score 32–24.

“But in the end, we didn’t finish,” Kiffin said.

LSU wasted two late red-zone opportunities

LSU officially scored on three of four red-zone possessions. Ole Miss finished five-for-five.

The difference was LSU’s inability to finish its final two trips.

With LSU trailing 24–21, Jones carried to the Ole Miss 3 before losing 2 yards on third-and-goal. The Tigers settled for a 23-yard field goal.

On LSU’s final possession, Leavitt ran to the Ole Miss 5. A false start moved the Tigers back to the 10, and the offense eventually faced fourth-and-goal from the 6. Kam Franklin deflected Leavitt’s pass, and Jaylon Braxton intercepted it in the end zone with 58 seconds remaining.

LSU reached goal-to-go territory twice during the fourth quarter and produced only three points.

Ole Miss produced five long scoring drives

Every Ole Miss scoring drive covered at least 59 yards. The Rebels’ four touchdown drives traveled 78, 92, 75 and 75 yards.

Ole Miss also converted nine of 15 third downs, a 60-percent success rate, and its only fourth-down attempt.

Those are the ugliest numbers of the game. LSU’s defense repeatedly had opportunities to end possessions, but Ole Miss continued moving the chains.

“We let this one get away,” Kiffin said.

The Bottom Line

LSU showed toughness, controlled the running game and produced a 17-point comeback in a hostile environment. Jones delivered another 100-yard performance, Leavitt created opportunities with his legs, and the defense showed what it could be during a scoreless third quarter.

But the Tigers also allowed 363 passing yards, surrendered five scoring drives of at least 59 yards and failed to score touchdowns on their final two goal-to-go possessions.

That combination explains the result. LSU was good enough to erase a 17-point deficit but not consistent enough to finish the comeback.

The loss leaves LSU 2–1 overall and 0–1 in SEC play. The Tigers now return to Death Valley to face Texas A&M with a clear list of problems to address—and several legitimate strengths around which to build.

Sources

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