OXFORD — There is always one major truth when facing LSU, regardless of who happens to be the coach at the moment, according to Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin: The Tigers’ talent will always be abundant.
Combine that with the fact Saturday’s matchup in Baton Rouge is a night game at the legendary Tiger Stadium, and this weekend has all the makings of another classic between the Rebels and Tigers.
No. 9 Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1 SEC) faces No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-0) Saturday at 6:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC. Ole Miss has not won in Death Valley since 2008, a streak of seven-straight losses. The Rebels have won two of their last three matchups against the Tigers overall, however, including last year’s 55-49 thriller in Oxford that ended with fans at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium storming the field.
Following their first loss of the season — a 20-17 stunner at home to Kentucky — the Rebels rallied in a big way over the weekend in a hostile environment, dominating South Carolina 27-3. But LSU — particularly at night — brings its own unique set of challenges.
“Like all LSU teams, regardless of who the head coach is, they’re extremely talented, great-looking players,” Kiffin said. “Really explosive on offense.”
Last season, LSU had eventual-Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels leading the offense; he was flanked out wide by 2024 NFL Draft first-round picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. While those faces are gone, the Tigers are once again loaded in the passing game.
Garrett Nussmeier leads the SEC with 15 touchdown passes, and his 330.4 passing yards per game is second in the SEC behind Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart. Nussmeier is protected by a pair of likely future first-round picks at the offensive tackle spots in Will Campbell and Emery Jones. The Tigers average 35.2 points per game and are tied for 16th nationally in total offense at 468.2 yards per game.
The Tigers are 12-0 under head coach Brian Kelly in night games, per SEC Network. But it’s a challenge and environment the Rebels are looking forward to playing in.
“We didn’t play there at night in 2022, but it’s going to be a great crowd. It’s going to be a great environment,” senior wide receiver Jordan Watkins said. “We’re super excited to get out there and … go against LSU on their own turf.”
LSU has won its last 13 home games, which includes a 45-20 win over then-No. 7 Ole Miss in 2022. The Rebels led by two touchdowns early in that game and by three at halftime before eventually surrendering the final 28 points of the game. That game, as well as all other games the teams have played previously, don’t mean much this week. Senior defensive end Jared Ivey was asked if he and his teammates discussed the Rebels’ drought at Tiger Stadium. He put it in perspective.
“I was seven (in 2008). Probably 50 guys on this roster weren’t even on this team last year,” Ivey said. “So, that’s not something that is going through the locker room or buzzing through the locker room. …what we try to focus on is just purely football. Purely white lines, purely turf and grass.
“ … All these opponents to us are faceless, and this is the team we have on our schedule this week.”
Perkins and Nolen earn SEC weekly honors
Sophomore defensive end Suntarine Perkins was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week, and junior defensive tackle Walter Nolen was named Co-Defensive Lineman of the Week following the Rebels’ win at South Carolina. Perkins had 12 tackles and a sack against the Gamecocks, while Nolen had three tackles for loss and two sacks.
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