LSU’s early-season shortcomings boiled over Saturday afternoon in the Oxford, Miss., sun to bring its undefeated start to tough conclusion.
No. 13 Ole Miss (5-0, 3-0) took control of the highly anticipated SEC matchup with back-to-back long touchdown drives right before halftime.
And the No. 4 Tigers (4-1, 1-1) struggled to establish a consistent rushing attack, convert third downs or generate explosive plays downfield en route to their first loss of the season, 24-19.
LSU managed just 57 yards on 22 attempts on the ground, a 2.6-yard average, and just three total plays of 15-plus yards, half its previous season-low of six at Clemson.
The Tigers finished 2-for-11 (18.2%) on third downs with an average distance-to-go of 8.1 yards — number improved by a pair of short-yardage opportunities late — compared to the Rebels’ 8-for-17 (47.1%) performance.
LSU struck first with Garrett Nussmeier to Zavion Thomas connecting for a 50-yard explosive play to set up an eventual diving Nic Anderson touchdown catch of a deflected 7-yard pass into the end zone early in the first quarter.
But the Tigers wouldn’t reach the end zone again until freshman running back Harlem Berry‘s first career touchdown with five minutes remaining.
In the meantime, the Rebels finally broke through a great defensive start by LSU and rattled off a 24-6 run during the middle three quarters of the game.
Ole Miss capped an 83-yard drive late in the first half with a 25-yard Lucas Carneiro field goal at the end of a 7:25 drive that began to take control of time of possession and lean on the visiting defense.
LSU’s further push during five-straight scoreless possessions ended in vain with an interception at the 12-yard line by senior safety Wydett Williams Jr., the transfer from ULM and former two-way General Trass star.
The Rebels then rattled off quick 70- and 69-yard drives — including 50 yards of LSU penalties on the first — in the final minutes of the half with a 15-yard run by sophomore running back Kewan Lacy claiming their first lead and a 2-yard touchdown from Trinidad Chambliss to Cayden Lee extending it, 17-7.
LSU could only turn a pair of short fields in the third quarter into 39- and 48-yard Damian Ramos field goals.
And Ole Miss finally marched a 75-yard drive into a 6-yard touchdown run by veteran running back Logan Diggs, the LSU transfer and former Archbishop Rummel star, to push the margin out to 24-13.
The Tigers took more than half the remaining clock, nearly six minutes, and a pair of fourth-down conversions to finally find paydirt again with Berry’s 6-yard cut up the middle.
But LSU failed to convert the subsequent two-point conversion or get the Rebels off the field for the final 5:04.
The home team has now won the past six games in the Magnolia Bowl series.
Nussmeier finished 21-for-34 (61.8%) for 197 yards, a touchdown and an interception, with Thomas leading nine Tigers receivers with 63 yards on three catches.
Berry’s seven carries for 22 yards and a score led the running backs.
Senior safety A.J. Haulcy‘s 13 tackles and timely forced fumble in the second quarter, cornerback Mansoor Delane‘s 11 tackles and junior linebacker Whit Weeks‘ 10 tackles, including one for loss and two hurries, led the defense.
Chambliss finished 23-for-39 (59.0%) for 314 yards, a touchdown and an interception and another 71 yards on 14 rushes.
The dual-threat quarterback spearheaded all eight Ole Miss third-down conversions — three runs and five passes — and completed passes to convert both fourth-down attempts.
including three runs and five passes for third-down conversions and 2-for-2
Lacy led the Rebels’ 166-yard rushing attack with 23 carries for 87 yards and a score. And Lee’s four catches for 70 yards topped three receivers with 60-plus yards.
LSU will have its first bye next week before returning to Tiger Stadium on Oct. 11 against South Carolina (2-2, 0-2).