By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports
OXFORD, Miss. – The last time LSU and Ole Miss played each other as unbeaten and untied football opponents was Halloween night 1959.
Yes, THAT game.
Billy Cannon’s epic 89-yard game-winning TD punt return and a last-minute goal line stand in Tiger Stadium provided a 7-3 victory for the No. 1 Tigers over the No. 3 Rebels.
Here Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ABC-TV in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, No. 4 LSU and No. 11 Ole Miss collide with spotless records for the first time in 66 years.
Of course, only the third September date for this rivalry since 1940 has much to do with that. There hasn’t been enough of a sample size yet this season for the Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) and Rebels (4-0, 2-0 SEC) to chart a definitive direction for the eight remaining regular-season games and possibly beyond.
In the first month of play, there have already been some unexpected twists and turns. It’s why in a series filled with heroes and heartbreaks, not even Las Vegas oddsmakers who have made Ole Miss a 1½-point favorite aren’t confident about how the 114th game of this series will transpire.
LSU is being carried for the first time in fourth-year head coach Brian Kelly’s tenure by an aggressive, airtight defense, while the supposedly ultra-talented offense has faltered (among other reasons) because its Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback has been nursing a month-long mystery injury only revealed after the first three games.
“We’re a little short in some areas,” said Kelly, referring to his sputtering offense that has averaged just 20 points and 345.7 yards against three FBS (formerly Division 1-A) foes before blasting FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) in-state opponent Southeastern Louisiana 56-10 last Saturday. “So, we’re now bringing a defense that can stand up against the environment of going on the road.”
LSU is ranked No. 9 nationally in scoring defense (9.3 points allowed per game) and 10th in rushing defense (64 yards). It faces a potent Ole Miss offense ranked 12th nationally in scoring (44.8 points pgp) and 9th in yardage (543.2 yards ppg).
Since Lane Kiffin arrived as Ole Miss’ head coach in 2020, the Rebels’ offense has operated mostly no-huddle with a frenetic pace that forces defenses to mentally and physically crack.
For five of LSU’s six transfer portal defensive starters (except for Florida edge rusher Jack Pyburn), it’s the first time they’ll play a Kiffin offense that has averaged 506.5 yards, 74.1 plays, and 36 points per game in his 66 games guiding the Rebels.
“They’re a very up-tempo offense,” said Tigers’ edge rusher Patrick Peyton, a Florida State transfer. “It’s like they average 16 seconds in between plays. So, when you make a big (defensive) play, you celebrate, get back in position, and get the (defensive) signal because they are going to go fast.”
Even with sophomore starting quarterback Austin Simmons sidelined most of the last two games after suffering an ankle injury in Game 2 at Kentucky, Ole Miss continues to short-circuit scoreboards using a little-known Division 2 transfer portal backup QB.
Senior Trinidad Chambliss, who guided Ferris State to last season’s NCAA Division 2 national championship, has averaged 417 total offense yards and has accounted for five TDs (three passing, two rushing) in wins over Arkansas (41-35) and Tulane (45-10).
He didn’t decide to transfer until this past spring. The Rebels paid him more than $500,000 to become backup insurance behind Simmons.
Instead, he’s about to get his second straight start even though Simmons i now healthy enough to play.
“The speed (of FBS football) is a little bit different,” Chambliss said. “There are bigger dudes on the line. The atmosphere is definitely different. But football is football. You just got to go out there, play fast, play hard, and trust that your guys have got your back.”
Unlike Simmons, LSU starting quarterback Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t sat out despite having an upper torso injury. The pain has hampered his passing and forced offensive coordinator Joe Sloan to steer away from certain play calls to preserve Nussmeier’s health.
Nussmeier said he was “fine” after he threw for 273 yards and three TDs vs. Southeastern. But he’s going to need help vs. Ole Miss from LSU’s anemic running game, which is averaging 116.8 yards and is ranked 111th nationally.
Though the Tigers will likely be without injured starting running back Caden Durham (sprained ankle), Kelly expects Ju’Juan Johnson, Harlem Berry, and Kalen Jackson to run with efficiency.
Also, there’s a desire by Kelly for his offense to operate at a fast tempo because it suits Nussmeier’s rhythm.
“There were things seen (concerning Nussmeier) of too much analysis on each play trying to be perfect,” said Kelly, who is 2-1 vs. Kiffin despite Ole Miss holding the lead 70 percent of the time. “Let’s just roll with it. Know where your hot receivers are, flip the protection, and let’s not get to the point we’re stalling the offense.”
GO FIGURE
4: TDs allowed by LSU’s defense in 40 opponent possessions this season.
5: Straight games of the Tigers holding opponents under 100 rushing yards
6-6: LSU’s record under Brian Kelly vs. top 25 teams.
15: Wins by Ole Miss all-time over top 5 opponents (including beating No. 2 Georgia in Oxford last season).
35 Completions by LSU last Saturday vs. Southeastern, tying the school single-game record
.846: Winning percentage (11-2) of the home team of the last 13 LSU-Ole Miss games dating back to 2012.
Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com