By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
BATON ROUGE – After two wins and a loss in the last three seasons against Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, LSU head coach Brian Kelly has learned three things.
Score plenty of points.
Keep your foot on the gas.
Play to the final horn and beyond.
Round 4 between Kelly and Kiffin is set for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium when No. 4 LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC) travels to No. 11 Ole Miss (4-0, SEC). It’s where two years ago LSU lost a 55-49 shootout that produced a combined 1,343 total offense yards.
In Kelly’s trio of games against Kiffin, Ole Miss has had the lead for 126 minutes and 5 seconds, LSU has been on top just 49 minutes and 16 seconds, and the score has been tied for 4 minutes and 39 seconds.
Kelly won his first meeting in 2022 with Kiffin, a 45-20 victory in Tiger Stadium when LSU outscored the Rebels 42-3 after Ole Miss led 17-3 with 14:57 left in the second quarter.
The shootout two years ago in Oxford saw Ole Miss take a two-TD lead four times until LSU forged a 49-40 lead with 8:34 left to play that it couldn’t maintain.
Last season in Baton Rouge, LSU never led until quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s game-winning TD pass on the Tigers’ first offensive play in overtime for a 29-26 win.
“Their offensive tempo is the best in the SEC, so you better get (your defense) lined up,” Kelly said at his weekly in-season Monday press conference. “In some instances, it keeps you from doing too much (schematically). You’ve got to keep your cleats on the ground and be fundamentally sound.”
Ole Miss has replaced NFL draftee Jaxson Dart at quarterback with sophomore Austin Simmons and senior transfer Trinidad Chambliss of Ferris State.
Simmons (580 passing yards, four TDs, four interceptions, 69 rushing yards, one TD) started the first three games but missed most of the third game and sat out last Saturday’s win over Tulane to nurse an ankle injury.
Chambliss (719 passing yards, four TDs, 195 yards rushing, two TDs) started vs. Tulane.
“Both of them have been extremely effective and efficient through their first couple of games, throwing and running,” Kelly said. “You’ve got a dual threat situation.”
While Ole Miss averages 15.4 more points (44.8 to 29.0) than LSU and is ranked 12th nationally in scoring offense, the Tigers allow 9.50 points less (9.25 to 18.75) than the Rebels and are ranked ninth in scoring defense.
“We have to continue to play at the level that we have defensively, and then bring your offense up to the level that it needs to be to win games in the SEC,” Kelly said. “You can’t be scoring a touchdown or 10 points. That’s not going to cut it in the SEC.”
Kelly said starting linebacker West Weeks, who sat out LSU’s 56-10 blowout of Southeastern Louisiana last Saturday with a sprained ankle, is probable to face Ole Miss.
Running back Caden Durham (sprained ankle) is day-to-day and is being monitored. Defensive end Gabriel Reliford (shoulder sublaxation) is doubtful. Tight end Trey’Dez Green (sprained ankle) is likely after missing the SLU game.
Here’s Kelly on other subjects:
On a tactical battle between LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker and the offensive playcalling of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin
“We’re at the point that we know each other very well. There’s no tricks, really. When you get down to it, it’s the team that really is executing at the highest level and doing the little things the right way. They’re going to get theirs. There’s no question that’s a great offense. They (Baker and Kiffin) know each other so well, and they know what to expect in both of them on offense and defense and how to make the appropriate adjustments.”
On LSU’s offense playing mentally freely
“I want our teams not to be so scripted. We got a little scripted offensively to the point where it was so planned out, and then the game starts, and then you have to adapt and adjust.
“As you talk about the offensive structure, I think it’s continually finding ways to run the ball and have a running game and then let Garrett Nussmeier (quarterback) do what he does, and he loves to throw the football down the field.”
On quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s improved play as his torso injury heals
“You could see a difference in what he was doing (vs. Southeastern). He was much more confident throwing the football. He saw opportunities to run and took them. His escape from the pocket when he threw the touchdown pass was outstanding. Those are the things that we’re looking for from him, allowing him to push the ball down the field. He’s highly accurate throwing downfield. It’s good to see him back to where he had been before this year, and I know he’s feeling really comfortable right now.”
KNOW YOUR ENEMY
No. 4 LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC) vs. No. 11 Ole Miss (4-0, 1-0 SEC), Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. (ABC)
Last game for Ole Miss: Won 45-10 in Oxford over Tulane on Saturday. Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss had 412 total offense yards (307 passing, 112 rushing) and threw for two TDs
Series record and last meeting: LSU leads 45-23-2. Last year in Baton Rouge, the Tigers rallied for a 29-26 win in overtime.
Ole Miss head coach: Lane Kiffin (109-52 overall in 14 seasons, 48-18 in six seasons at Ole Miss)
THIS AND THAT
Early betting line: Ole Miss opens as a 2½-point favorite.
Betting tip: The home team has won the last five games in this series, and six of the last eight games have gone over the Vegas total points.
Number of Louisiana natives on Ole Miss roster: 10
Number of Mississippi natives on the LSU roster: 2
Number of transfers on Ole Miss roster from 4-year schools: 42 players from 35 schools.
OLE MISS PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Trinidad Chambliss (42 of 62 for 719 passing yards, 4 TDs, 142 rushing yards on 14 carries), RB Kewan Lacy (358 rushing yards and 7 TDs on 79 carries), WR Harrison Wallace III (16 catches for 343 yards, 2 TDs), DT Zxarian Harris (21 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 1 PBU), S Wydett Williams Jr. (15 tackles, 4 PBU), LB Princewill Umanmielen (10 tackles, 2½ TFL), PK/KO Lucas Carneiro (10 of 11 FG, 16 of 16 extra points, 30 kickoffs for 65.0 ypk and 29 touchbacks), P Oscar Bird (9 for 46.22 ypp, 2 inside the 20).
DID YOU KNOW. . .
The combined 1,343 total offense yards by Ole Miss (706 yards) and LSU (637) between the teams in Oxford in 2023 is the fifth-highest combined total offense yards in a game in SEC history.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com