The scoreboard at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium read 24-19. It wasn't the track meet everyone expected. Honestly, after the 2023 explosion where the two teams basically decided defense was optional and combined for over 100 points, the 2025 version of the Magnolia Bowl felt like a fever dream in slow motion. Ole Miss walked away with the win on September 27, 2025, but the LSU and Ole Miss score only tells about half the story of a game that felt more like a chess match played in a hurricane.
Lane Kiffin finally did it. He beat a top-5 LSU team for the first time in sixty years for the Rebels. That’s a massive weight off the shoulders of a program that has spent decades in the shadow of the Tigers.
The Breakdown of the 24-19 Shocker
LSU came in ranked No. 4 in the country. They looked like a juggernaut. Then they ran into a Rebel defense that looked nothing like the "bend-but-eventually-break" unit from years past. Ole Miss held the Tigers to a measly 254 yards of total offense. If you’ve watched LSU lately, you know that’s basically a single half of football for them usually.
Garrett Nussmeier struggled. There is no other way to put it. While he’s had some legendary moments—like that 2024 overtime winner in Death Valley—this afternoon in Oxford was a different beast. He was harassed, hurried, and eventually picked off by Wydett Williams Jr. in a moment that sucked the gravity right out of the LSU sideline.
How the Points Stacked Up
The game started with a bit of a tease. LSU marched down and took a 7-0 lead early when a tipped pass somehow landed in the hands of Nic Anderson. You'd think that would spark a blowout. Nope.
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Trinidad Chambliss, the Ole Miss signal-caller, didn't panic. He led an 18-play drive. It was exhausting just to watch. It only resulted in a field goal, but it established the tempo. By halftime, Ole Miss had surged to a 17-7 lead. The most telling stat? LSU had only 126 yards at the break.
- First Quarter: LSU 7, Ole Miss 3
- Second Quarter: Ole Miss 14, LSU 0
- Third Quarter: LSU 6, Ole Miss 0
- Fourth Quarter: Ole Miss 7, LSU 6
LSU tried to make it interesting. They always do. A PJ Woodland interception gave them life, and freshman sensation Harlem Berry punched in a late touchdown to make it 24-19. But a failed two-point conversion and a stifling final stand by the Rebels' front four ended the comeback hopes.
Why This Score Actually Matters for the SEC
People fixate on the LSU and Ole Miss score because it’s a gatekeeper game. If you want to get to Atlanta for the SEC Championship, you usually have to survive this rivalry. For Ole Miss, this 2025 win was a statement. It was their first win over a top-5 LSU squad since 1965. Think about that. That's generations of fans who had never seen it happen.
The rivalry, officially dubbed the Magnolia Bowl since 2008, is the second-most played series for both schools. LSU still leads the all-time series 64-43-4 (depending on which vacated wins you count, but let's not get bogged down in NCAA paperwork).
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The Ghost of 2024
You can't talk about the current state of this rivalry without mentioning the 29-26 overtime thriller from 2024. That game was the 100th anniversary of Tiger Stadium. It was peak "Saturday Night in Death Valley."
In that one, LSU never led. Not once. Not until the very last play of the game. Nussmeier threw a 25-yard dart to Kyren Lacy in overtime to walk it off. It sent 100,000 people over the railings and onto the grass. It’s that kind of emotional volatility that makes the LSU and Ole Miss score one of the first things fans look for on the ticker every autumn.
Historical context: More than just numbers
This isn't just a game; it's a collection of weird, iconic moments. You have the "Billy Cannon Halloween Run" in 1959 where he returned a punt 89 yards. Then there's the 1972 "The Night the Clock Stopped" game. Bert Jones threw a touchdown pass with one second left—or zero seconds, depending on who you ask in Mississippi—to win 17-16.
The scores have historically been lopsided or heart-stoppers.
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- 2011: LSU wins 52-3 (The most lopsided ever).
- 2023: Ole Miss wins 55-49 (The offensive track meet).
- 2025: Ole Miss wins 24-19 (The defensive statement).
It’s almost like the universe refuses to let these two teams play a "normal" game of football.
What to watch for next time
When these two meet again on September 19, 2026, the stakes will likely be just as high. We’re seeing a shift in the power dynamic. Lane Kiffin has made Ole Miss a legitimate playoff contender, while Brian Kelly is trying to maintain that "standard" he always talks about.
If you're betting on the next LSU and Ole Miss score, look at the defensive line play. In 2025, the Rebels won because they lived in the Tigers' backfield. LSU's run game basically disappeared, which is a death sentence in the SEC.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Trenches: Don't just follow the ball. The winner of this game is increasingly decided by who wins the line of scrimmage, not just the "flashy" QB play.
- Home Field is Real: The last few years have shown that the home crowd—whether it's the deafening roar of Baton Rouge or the sea of red in Oxford—consistently forces procedural penalties that swing the score by 3 to 7 points.
- Historical Trends: LSU still holds the overall lead, but Ole Miss has won 3 of the last 5. The "big brother" dynamic is fading fast.
The 24-19 result in 2025 wasn't just a box score. It was a signal that the Rebels are no longer content just being a "tough out." They're playing for the whole thing now.