The LSU Tigers completed a hard-fought, instant-classic upset win against No. 9 Ole Miss in overtime by a score of 29-26. In what may be considered as the game of the year, the Tigers added yet another core memory to the history books while celebrating the 100th anniversary of Tiger Stadium.

After a scoreless first quarter, which consisted of a missed field goal by the Rebels and an interception thrown by junior LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, both teams’ offenses started to come alive.

With just less than 10 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Ole Miss Rebels possessed a 3-0 lead and were looking for a chance to increase the deficit after stopping the Tigers on a 4th down conversion at their own 38-yard-line.

Senior running back Ulysses Bentley IV, who came into this game with a season-high of only 23 rushing yards in a single game, would take a handoff from quarterback Jaxson Dart 50 yards for a walk-in touchdown.

Just like that, the Tigers were down 10-0 and faced a two-possession game.

Backs against the wall, the Nussmeier-led offense put together a 75-yard drive that was capped off with a 13-yard receiving touchdown from freshman tight end Trey’Dez Green.

Promptly, Ole Miss responded the only way they knew best.

Manufacturing an 11-play, 75-yard drive of their own, senior quarterback Jaxson Dart concluded the drive with a 15-yard touchdown to wide receiver Tre Harris.

Notably, Harris transferred to Ole Miss from Louisiana Tech in 2023. The Lafayette native grew up as an LSU fan, and took their silence in the transfer portal to heart. Making his receiving touchdown and over 100 yards receiving that much sweeter.

After a pair of successful field goals off the foot of Damian Ramos, the Tigers entered halftime trailing the Rebels by a score of 17-13.

The third quarter was relatively calm for the most part. Each team capitalized on a field goal, and the score heading into the fourth quarter was 20-16.

However, as the fourth quarter started, the Ole Miss offense started to find its stride. Following two receptions, each going for 18 and 33 yards, made by sophomore wide receiver Cayden Lee, the Rebels were threatening to score a potential touchdown to go ahead by two possessions.

On a 1st and 25, following a delay of game penalty due to the sheer noise radiating from over 100,000 thousand fans, Dart would throw an interception to senior cornerback Zy Alexander in the endzone.

Once again, the Tigers’ defense was able to keep it a one-score game.

This momentum shift for the Tigers came to a screeching halt, as Nussmeier threw his second interception of the game to senior cornerback Trey Amos on the first play of the drive.

With 3:17 left in the fourth quarter, Nussmeier and the Tigers offense faced their last opportunity to tie the game up as the score looked bleak at 23-16. However, after three catches to junior tight end Mason Taylor totaling a combined 43 yards, the purple and gold slowly inched down the field.

Facing a 4th and a long five yards, with the game on the line, Nussmeier proved to have ice in his veins after completing a 23-yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Aaron Anderson.

After a Ramos extra-point, the game was now tied at 23-23.

The 100th-anniversary game in Death Valley, between two Top 15 opponents, was going to be decided in overtime.

Ole Miss received the ball first in overtime, but failed to find the endzone. Their offense would have to settle for a 57-yard field goal.

Nussmeier and the LSU Tigers needed only one play to seal the game, completing a 25-yard touchdown to standout wide receiver Kyren Lacy.

The final score was 29-26. The LSU Tigers emerged victorious from the jaws of defeat.

Garrett Nussmeier finished the game 22-51 for 337 yards and 3 touchdowns, with his longest pass going for 46 yards to Aaron Anderson.

Jaxson Dart ended up going 24-42 for 284 yards with 1 touchdown. He was also sacked a whopping 6 times by the aggressive LSU defense.

Kyren Lacy had a breakout game, recording five receptions for 111 yards and the game-winning touchdown. This was the best game of the season from him by far.

On the defensive side of the ball, Whit Weeks finished with an unfathomable 18 total tackles. Also, he recorded a sack and two tackles for loss.

This game between the LSU Tigers and Ole Miss Rebels is the second-longest game ever to be played in Death Valley, lasting an impressive four hours and 16 minutes.

With this upset win, the Tigers’ hopes of making the newly formatted, 12-team College Football Playoff remain stronger than ever.

Next Saturday, LSU Football will travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks at 6:30 p.m. CST.

The Tigers will be looking to claim the Golden Boot for a second consecutive year.