Ole Miss beats LSU 32-24 in Kiffin return to Oxford

Ole Miss defeated LSU 32-24 on Saturday night in Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford, a result that positions the Rebels to leapfrog the Tigers in the next Associated Press poll. The Rebels entered the game ranked No. 8, while LSU held the No. 7 spot. The victory ended a period of intense trash talking between the programs, with Kiffin facing boos and middle fingers from the crowd at Vaught Hemingway Stadium upon his arrival.

The game remained competitive until the final minutes. LSU scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to close the gap to three points and tied the score with a field goal early in the fourth quarter. The decisive play came with 6:14 remaining, when Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss scored on a 14-yard run. The Rebels added a two-point conversion to extend their lead to eight points, a margin they held until the final whistle.

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves responded to the final score with a post on X, referencing the financial terms of Kiffin's move and the construction of LSU's roster. Reeves asked what a $54 million buyout for Kiffin, a $91 million contract for his new role, and a $50 million roster yielded, answering with "An a-s whipping in Oxford, Mississippi." The comments highlighted the friction surrounding Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss for LSU during the offseason.

Kiffin acknowledged the emotional weight of the contest in his post-game remarks. He described the game as "emotional" and "life-changing," noting that he had many good people who supported him during difficult times. "Sometimes I don't act like it, but I'm a human, too," Kiffin said. He conceded that the Ole Miss players "played really well" and deserved the win.

Chambliss indicated that the victory carried more significance than many of his other collegiate games. He stated that emotions were "really high" for this specific matchup and expressed relief that the team had completed the game. The Associated Press contributed to this report.