After a week off, LSU football heads into its greatest test yet: No. 9 Ole Miss.
The Rebels beat LSU last year in Oxford in a shootout that truly exposed the Tigers’ defensive struggles.
This year, the two teams both come in with one loss, as Ole Miss fell to Kentucky two weeks ago. That makes this rivalry matchup extremely important, with both teams clinging onto College Football Playoff hopes.
Here’s how the Reveille Sports Staff predicted the upcoming game.
Jason Willis, Sports Editor | @JasonWillis4
This one’s personal for LSU: last year’s game, an embarrassing and historic disaster for the defense, left a bitter taste in the team’s mouth. This year’s Ole Miss offense is just as potent and could stretch the defense just as much.
Not only that, Ole Miss’ defensive front is much improved, and as we saw in the first half against South Carolina, a Garrett Nussmeier that’s under constant pressure can’t carry the Tigers to victory. LSU’s defense will need to be disciplined and show how it’s progressed since last season, particularly with its physicality. On the other side, Nussmeier will need consistent protection and help from a run game that will presumably be led by an ailing Caden Durham.
I don’t see the upset. LSU’s defense hasn’t made the necessary strides to hold off this year’s Ole Miss team.
Prediction: Ole Miss 35-28 LSU
Lizzie Falcetti, Deputy Sports Editor | @lizziefalcetti
Whether it’s Ole Miss or LSU, winning this game is a critical step toward securing a College Football Playoff spot. A loss will leave zero margin for error for the rest of the season. Both of these teams will have something to prove, and it will truly be a gritty fight to the finish where neither side can afford to blink.
I think if LSU can hold off the Rebels’ pass rush and allow Garrett Nussmeier time to make big plays, the Tigers should stay competitive throughout the game. But the hardest battle of the night will be containing Jaxson Dart and the Ole Miss offense. If LSU can apply constant pressure on defense, then the Tigers could come out with a win.
A top-15 matchup with two rival teams is as unpredictable as it gets. I don’t know if LSU will be able to pull off an upset. This Ole Miss team has too many weapons, and it looks ready for Death Valley.
Prediction: Ole Miss 41-38 LSU
Tyler Harden, Senior Sports Reporter | @ttjharden8
When Ole Miss suffered its first loss to Kentucky, the stakes for LSU’s matchups with the Rebels got a whole lot higher. Now, the loser of this game could very well be knocked out of College Football Playoff contention. But of course, the game itself is already set to be intense. It didn’t need playoff implications for that to be the case.
Garrett Nussmeier and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart are two of the most comparable quarterbacks in the SEC. They have a knack for throwing the ball in a high-tempo offense, and both lean on their receivers to stretch the field. With this being said, defense will be the determining factor of this game.
With Ole Miss’s front seven able to get to the quarterback efficiently, led by Jared Ivey and Suntarine Perkins, LSU’s offensive line will once again have a tough task ahead in protecting Nussmeier. But on the flip side, LSU’s secondary will need to be as consistent as ever to halt Ole Miss’ quick tempo through the air. And up to this point, that consistency has not been there.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38-28 LSU
Tre Allen, Sports Reporter | @treday0314
This game is going to be filled with a lot of emotions. One of the craziest games last year took place with these two teams on the field.
Ole Miss squeaked out the win coming down to the final play of the game. This year both teams are different.
LSU is without Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas but also has improved on the defensive side of the ball tremendously compared to last year. And the same goes for Ole Miss. The Tigers went into the transfer portal and got major defensive players that were desperately needed.
Ole Miss came into the year looking unbeatable with a high-powered offense and new defensive players but already lost to Kentucky at home. As for LSU, although it’s showed improvement, the same defensive mistakes from last year have carried over from last season.
In these close games, I think it comes down to an obvious factor, and that’s home-field advantage.
We saw in last week’s crazy college football slate what that can do for a team, and I think with Death Valley at night, LSU will be able to pull off the upset.
Prediction: LSU 37-30 Ole Miss
Brett Kemper, Sports Reporter | @kemper_brett
In what has been a stressful year to watch this LSU team find its identity both defensively and in the running game, LSU still has not been able to play good complementary Football.
While Garrett Nussmeier and the offense have been able to better balance a pass-heavy offense, wide receivers Chris Hilton and CJ Daniels are questionable and running back Caden Durham is probable. It is clear that this LSU offense is not at 100%
Additionally, the defense has made steps from last year’s Matt House tragedy, but unless Blake Baker and the rest of the defensive staff have performed a miracle over the bye week, this defense is not what it needs to be to compete with Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss team.
Even though this will mark Ole Miss’ seventh straight game, I think LSU’s weakness in the secondary and injuries on the offense will play a major factor after halftime adjustments are made.
Even with Death Valley roaring, home-field advantage will not be enough for the Tigers to overcome their personnel deficits and Ole Miss wins 31-24.
Prediction: Ole Miss 31-24 LSU
Isabelle Callahan, Sports Reporter | @isabellecal17
Saturday, Oct. 12, will be one for the books as the LSU Tigers take on the Ole Miss Rebels in a personal mission to claim redemption after last year’s showdown ended with a Rebel win.
This game will feel like a tug-of-war, with the two teams each at the top of their game with LSU’s offense having a strong quarterback who can make big plays because of the team chemistry seen on the field.
But LSU needs to be careful of the Rebels’ strong defense. They can run them off the field and control the clock; it’s been seen before. Coming off a fairly recent loss to Kentucky, which was not supposed to happen, the Rebels are out for blood.
Luckily for the Tigers, after Week 6, the Ole Miss injury report showed 15 players out, key players like defensive tackle J.J. Pegues. The real challenge will be the LSU defense, going against such a strong offense and quarterback Jaxson Dart who has 2,100 yards so far this season.
I think this will be a close game that Ole Miss will pull out. LSU just doesn’t have the defensive power that Ole Miss does. We have seen a strong fight put up by the Tigers so far which will be seen on Saturday — but not enough to pull through.
Prediction: Ole Miss 32-27 LSU
Martin Sullivan, Sports Reporter | @marty_sulli
The last time LSU and Ole Miss faced off while both top 15, the Rebels had Eli Manning starting at quarterback. Saturday’s game follows a 2023 shootout loss that ended with Ole Miss fans rushing the field.
After losing the season opener, this is now the most important game of the season for LSU. A loss stretches playoff odds pretty significantly. With a bye week and home field advantage, there are no excuses.
LSU continues a season trend of playing top end defensive lines, of which the Rebels may be the best. An experienced offensive line and quick play calls can limit the effects of this, but it will not come easy.
On the offensive side, Jaxson Dart and superstar Tre Harris run the show, though Harris’ status is up in the air. LSU’s inability to limit offenses throughout the season makes for concern. If they can’t pressure Dart and limit explosives, things could get ugly.
But this is homecoming week on Tiger Stadium’s 100th year and LSU is playing a storied rival at home. Sometimes the crowd powers the team to a win, this feels like one of those games.
Prediction: LSU 37-35 Ole Miss
Gabby Gray, Sports Reporter | @GabbyGray06
There’s a lot on the line for the Tigers this week as LSU gears up to take on Ole Miss for its second conference game.
The Rebels are swarming to Baton Rouge with a 1-1 conference record after a loss to Kentucky – 17-20 – and a win against the South Carolina Gamecocks.
So what does this mean for LSU?
Even though LSU’s defense has been doing their best to improve throughout the season, it’s not prepared to take on Ole Miss’ offensive line, who ran circles around South Carolina.
Yes, LSU is charging into Death Valley with a winning streak of four this weekend, and it has the home field advantage going for it. But being in Death Valley with thousands of roaring fans for LSU’s homecoming won’t be enough to bring home a Tiger win, especially against senior quarterback Jaxson Dart, who’s strapping 2100 passing yards under his belt.
When comparing Dart to LSU’s redshirt junior quarterback Garrett Nussmeier – who only has 1,652 yards so far – Dart is certainly a player to be feared on the field this Saturday.
With that being said, it’s going to be a tense game for the Tigers, and it will unfortunately not end well for them if they haven’t improved over the Bye week.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38-24 LSU
