Death Valley at night is a cliché until you're actually there. The humidity sticks to your skin, the smell of bourbon and corn dogs is thick enough to chew, and the noise—it’s not just loud, it’s physical. If you were looking for the Ole Miss and LSU score on October 12, 2024, you probably saw a final of 29-26 in favor of the Tigers. But a box score is a lie. It doesn’t tell you about the 102,212 people who nearly shook the stadium off its foundation or the fact that Ole Miss basically dominated every statistical category except the one that mattered.
It was the 100th anniversary of Tiger Stadium. Brian Kelly’s squad was ranked No. 13, and Lane Kiffin brought his No. 9 Rebels into town with an offense that looked like a video game on easy mode. For most of the night, it felt like Ole Miss was the better team. Jaxson Dart was dealing, the Rebels' defense was actually hitting people for once, and LSU's Garrett Nussmeier looked... well, he looked human. Until he didn't.
The Game That Refused to End
You’ve got to feel for Lane Kiffin. His team led for almost the entire game. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead. They had a 17-7 cushion. Even late in the fourth quarter, it felt like the Rebels were going to escape with a massive road win that would’ve basically punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff conversation.
But then the fourth quarter happened. Nussmeier, who had been struggling with accuracy all night, found his groove when the pressure became suffocating. On a crucial fourth-and-5 from the Ole Miss 23-yard line, he zipped a ball to Aaron Anderson for a touchdown with only 27 seconds left on the clock.
That tied it up at 23-23. The crowd went mental.
In overtime, Ole Miss got the ball first. They stalled out, and Caden Davis—who had already been a hero for the Rebels—nailed a 57-yard field goal. That’s a stadium record, by the way. Imagine kicking a 57-yarder in that environment. 26-23, Rebels.
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Then came the dagger.
LSU took over, and on the very first play, Nussmeier launched a 25-yard rocket to Kyren Lacy. Catch. Touchdown. Game over. 29-26. The field was covered in purple and gold shirts before the refs could even signal the score.
Why the 2024 Ole Miss and LSU Score Was an Outlier
Kinda weirdly, the 2024 game was a massive departure from what we saw the year before. In 2023, these two teams put up a combined 104 points. It was a track meet. Jaxson Dart and Jayden Daniels were just trading blows until Ole Miss won 55-49.
In 2024, the defenses actually showed up.
- LSU sacked Jaxson Dart six times.
- Whit Weeks, the LSU linebacker, played like a man possessed with 18 tackles.
- The Tigers' defense broke up 12 pass attempts.
Honestly, the "Magnolia Bowl" has become one of the most unpredictable games in the SEC. People talk about the Iron Bowl or the Egg Bowl, but for sheer chaos? This is the one.
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The 2025 Rematch: A Different Story
If you're following the rivalry into the most recent season, the Ole Miss and LSU score took another turn on September 27, 2025. This time, the game was in Oxford. LSU came in ranked No. 4 in the country, looking like a national title contender. Ole Miss was sitting at No. 13, playing with a backup-turned-starter named Trinidad Chambliss after Austin Simmons went down with an injury.
Nobody expected Chambliss, a Division II transfer from Ferris State, to outplay a Heisman hopeful like Nussmeier. But that’s exactly what happened.
Ole Miss won that one 24-19.
It wasn't pretty. It was the lowest-scoring game in the series since 2014. But it proved that Lane Kiffin has finally built a program that can win the "slugfest" games, not just the "shootouts." Chambliss threw for 314 yards and a touchdown, while the Rebels' defense held LSU to just 57 yards on the ground.
Historical Context You Probably Forgot
LSU leads the all-time series 64-43-4, but that doesn’t really capture the bitterness. Think about the 1959 game—Billy Cannon’s 89-yard punt return. That play is still played on the big screen at Tiger Stadium every single Saturday. It cost Ole Miss a national championship.
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Then you have the modern era. Since the Magnolia Bowl trophy was introduced in 2008, the home team has won 12 of the last 14 meetings. Home-field advantage in this rivalry isn't just a stat; it’s a death sentence for the visitor.
Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond
The next time these two face off is September 19, 2026. If the trends hold, expect a close game that comes down to a fourth-down play in the final two minutes.
If you're betting on the next Ole Miss and LSU score, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the Trench Battle: LSU’s ability to sack the quarterback has been the deciding factor in their recent wins.
- The Kiffin Factor: Lane Kiffin is 31-6 at home since 2021. If the game is in Oxford, the Rebels are the safe bet.
- The "Nussmeier" Era: As long as Garrett Nussmeier is under center for the Tigers, they are never out of a game, regardless of how bad the first three quarters look.
To truly understand where these programs are headed, keep an eye on the transfer portal rankings this spring. Both Kelly and Kiffin have built their rosters through aggressive portal poaching. The winner of the 2026 Magnolia Bowl will likely be the team that found the best defensive tackle or edge rusher in the off-season.
Check the injury reports for both starting quarterbacks at least 48 hours before kickoff, as the spread usually moves 3-4 points based on their status. If you're traveling to the game, book your hotel in Baton Rouge or Oxford at least six months in advance; the local infrastructure usually buckles under the weight of this rivalry's fans.