LSU 29-26 Ole Miss (Oct. 12, 2024) Game Recap

BATON ROUGE, La. – – Garrett Nussmeier threw a crucial touchdown pass in the final seconds of regulation, hitting Kyren Lacy for a 25-yard score on No. 13 LSU's first play of overtime, completing a stunning 29-26 comeback Victory over No. 9 Mississippi on Saturday night.

The victory marked the first time that LSU (5-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) led the entire game and fans flocked to the field to celebrate a triumph that put the Tigers back in the collegiate conversation for now football playoffs will bring.

Nussmeier struggled for most of the game, throwing two interceptions, but came alive when it mattered most, finishing with 337 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those touchdowns came on the last two snaps he took.

Jaxson Dart passed for 284 yards and a score and Ulysses Bently IV ran for a 50-yard touchdown on a fourth-down play for Mississippi (5-2, 1-2), dealing a major blow to its hopes of a win win a staggered conference crown or receive a CFP bid.

Ole Miss was just one play away from victory in the final minutes of regulation, but Nussmeier converted fourth-and-six with a pass to Mason Taylor to sustain a drive that he capped off with a 23-yard TD pass Aaron Anderon crowned left in 27 seconds.

After LSU led Mississippi to a field goal on its first possession of overtime, Nussmeier wasted no time in allowing Lacy a game-winning shot near the right pylon.

Last season in Oxford, the Ole Miss offense gained 706 yards in a 55-49 victory over the Tigers. This year, LSU coach Brian Kelly wanted more solid play from his defense and got it.

LSU put heavy pressure on Dart, sacking him six times and intercepting him once while holding the Rebels well below their 44-point scoring average.

Ole Miss threatened to extend its lead to 20-16 when LSU's Zy Alexander intercepted Dart's 35-yard pass to Cayden Lee in the end zone to keep the Tigers close enough to orchestrate their dramatic comeback.

Ole Miss controlled the first quarter but missed several scoring opportunities.

Tre Harris dropped a deep pass up the middle with no one between him and the end zone. Davis missed a 32-yard field goal and Ole Miss was unable to capitalize on the defensive tackle when Jamarious Brown intercepted Nussmeier's batted pass because the Rebels failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 at the LSU 5.

The Rebels still held a 10-0 lead as Davis' 49-yard field goal and Bentley's long, sliding run resulted in the tackle.

The Tigers responded with Nussmeier's 12-yard pass over the middle to tight end Tray'Dez Green.

Harris' 15-yard touchdown after a leaping, spinning catch in tight coverage made it 17-7. But LSU's Damian Ramos kicked two field goals in a 29-second span – the second after LSU's Pentecost tripped Ole Miss' Henry Parrish Jr. – to make the score 17-13 at halftime.

THE TAKEAWAY

Mississippi: This was the second time the Rebels were considered away favorites in the SEC. The first time there was a 20:17 defeat in Kentucky.

LSU: The Tigers have proven they can play respectable defense against one of the better offenses in the country, although in this case they have two weeks to prepare after getting a bye last week.

UNDER SUSPICION

The crowd at Tiger Stadium repeatedly booed as Ole Miss players appeared to be sidelined with injuries and were treated by trainers – clearly unwilling to give a team suspected of faking injuries to give them the benefit of the doubt at critical moments to take a breather.

In one instance, defensive end Jared Ivey went down after LSU quickly marched from its own 25 to the Mississippi 18. Ivey was back on the field when LSU failed on third down and settled for a field goal.

On Friday, Mississippi released a statement noting that its program has been highlighted in national discussions about feigned injuries. Ole Miss said it would provide relevant medical information to national officiating coordinator Steve Shaw and that its coaching staff would speak with players to “make sure we conduct ourselves appropriately.”

NEXT

Mississippi: Hosts Oklahoma on October 26th.

LSU: At Arkansas on Saturday.

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