The Grove in Oxford, Mississippi, was rocking with Rebel revelers before and after the LSU-Ole Miss game on Saturday. The Tigers rolled into Oxford as the No. 4 team in the country. When the final horn sounded, LSU (4-1) rolled out with its first defeat of the 2025 season at the hands of then No. 13 Ole Miss, 24-19.
It was the fourth time in five games that the Tigers scored 23 points or less.
As a result, LSU and Ole Miss swapped spots in this week’s Associated Press Top 25 Poll. LSU dropped to No. 13 while Ole Miss rose nine spots to No. 4.
Once again, the LSU offense “offended” their fan base, who made the trip to North Mississippi to cheer on their favorite sons. The Tigers could not run the ball effectively, gaining just 59 net rushing yards and 2.59 yards per carry.
The play-calling left a lot to be desired. LSU was a horrible 2-of-11 on third-down conversions. That is a conversion rate of 18 percent.
This time last year, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was playing at Division II Ferris State. On Saturday, he was leading coach Lane Kiffin’s offense to 484 yards of total offense while taking down the fourth-ranked team in the FBS. Chambliss threw for 314 yards and a touchdown.
In addition, Chambliss rushed for 71 yards and put pressure on the talented LSU defense all afternoon.
After the LSU defense racked up 11 sacks through four games, the Ole Miss offensive line held strong. They kept the LSU defenders away from Chambliss so he could do his thing. Ole Miss allowed zero sacks on the day.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier clearly was not 100 percent. Some of his throws were off target. The Ole Miss defense held Nussmeier to under 200 yards passing for the first time this season.
After the game, Nussmeier refused to answer questions about his health.
If Nussmeier is not 100 percent, which all signs point to that very fact, then why not make a change? Backup Michael Van Buren has SEC experience as a transfer from Mississippi State and has shown he is capable of moving the Tigers down the field.
Van Buren completed 10 of 12 passes for 122 yards and accounted for two touchdowns in the second half against Southeastern Louisiana.
Van Buren was available for the second half against Ole Miss and maybe could have provided the spark the Tigers desperately needed. However, LSU coach Brian Kelly chose not to call Van Buren’s number.
One loss can be overcome, but the schedule only gets harder for the Tigers. After the bye week this week, LSU hosts South Carolina and another dual-threat quarterback, LaNorris Sellers.
Then they face off against Diego Pavia and the Vanderbilt Commodores on the road. After that, they host Marcel Reed and the Aggies of Texas A&M, all in consecutive weeks.
Joe Sloan and Cortez Hankton, LSU’s co-offensive coordinators, must get more creative in play-calling, especially in critical down-and-distance situations.
Explosive plays of 25 yards or more are desperately needed. Yes, that is overstating the obvious, but until the LSU offense does it on the field, it cannot be overstated enough.
If LSU does not up its game on the offensive side of the ball, it could be a long second half of the season for Kelly and the Tigers.
Tony Thomas
Author
The Aggies have not won in Tiger Stadium since 1994
Cody Slovensky
LSU Writer
The third Saturday in October. With the leaves beginning to fall and the temperatures cooling down, most people feel a sense of happiness. Thinking of the approaching holiday season, with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas approaching, everyone should be in good spirits. On Saturday, October 18th, in Tuscaloosa, AL, there will be nothing but hatred in […]
The series record between LSU and Vanderbilt is lopsided in the Tigers favor, but the Commodores are the darlings of the SEC in 2025.
