PURE HATE: kiffin returns to oxford

Ole Miss and LSU enter Saturday’s matchup both undefeated, and ranked top ten in the country.

However, the storyline of the game has been hijacked by Lane Kiffin’s controversial exit from Oxford in the middle of the teams playoff run a year ago. This marks Kiffin’s first game back since the debacle.

The title of this article was “pure hate” for a reason. That is exactly what Ole Miss fans feel about Kiffin following his departure, and nobody should expect anything besides one of the most out of control, intense, and loud environments in college football history in Oxford for this matchup.

For a game like this, to a certain extent matchups can be thrown out the window. This game will come to down to simply who wants it more. However, here are the matchups that will decide this game.

Sam Leavitt vs Ole Miss’s Secondary:

The good news for LSU and Leavitt is that this 2026 Ole Miss secondary has already been exposed. Against this Rebels secondary two weeks ago, Ohio State transfer and Cardinals QB Lincoln Kienholz threw for 307 yards and 2 touchdowns, proving that there are yards to be gained against this Ole Miss secondary.

On the flip side however, Ole Miss was likely salivating watching Leavitt, who came into the year ranked as the transfer portals top QB before committing to LSU, throw a surprising three interceptions against Louisiana Tech.

if LSU wants to win this game, they will likely need a turnover free game from Leavitt.

If Ole Miss wants to ruin Lane Kiffin’s return, the key lies in improving the groups secondary play. The Ole Miss secondary could not be more important in this matchup.

Trinidad Chambliss Running the Ball:

A year ago, LSU’s defense had a glaring weak point. That weak point was defending the quarterback run. In SEC play a year ago, LSU allowed 400+ rushing yards from quarterbacks alone, one of the highest numbers in the country.

While Trinidad Chambliss is not exactly a run-first quarterback, he tallied an efficient 60 yards on 9 carries and a touchdown on the ground against Louisville.

Look for Chambliss to use his legs more than he usually does against an LSU defense that will have to prove that they have made significant improvements against the QB run over the offseason.

Kewan Lacy:

Chambliss is elite, Deuce Alexander will play at a high-level on the outside, and Pete Golding will have a good defensive scheme for the Rebels.

However, what is going to make this offense roll for Ole Miss on Saturday is the ground game. Against an elite LSU defensive line (full of Ole Miss transfers by the way) that tallied a whopping 4 sacks against Clemson, keeping Chambliss out of obvious passing situations will be crucial for the Rebels offense. In order to die this, they will need a big game of clock control from Kewan Lacy. Expect Lacy to tote the rock 20+ times for the Rebels, with his performance deciding how heavily Rebels HC Pete Golding will be forced to rely on Chambliss.

This will be one of the craziest environments in College Football History, and if Kewan Lacy can run at an efficient clip, expect the Rebels to keep it close.

However, LSU simply has too much talent, and too much on the line to not walk into Oxford and outlast the Rebels.

This will not be a blowout, but expect Leavitt, Pickett, Kiffin, and the rest of this LSU team to be a little bit too much for an entirely new Rebels roster to handle.

Writer’s Prediction: 30-24 LSU Victory