LSU vs. Ole Miss CFB Live Updates, Highlights and Analysis for Sept 19

There was a whole lot of pregame chatter that the Ole Miss-LSU game would be a shootout, and we may very well see that before the game is over.

But very (VERY) early, it's the defenses who are all over the field, forcing miscues, taking advantage of the other team's mistakes and making the offense pay for penalties.

This type of game would be interesting to see play out. Pete Golding is a defensive coordinator at heart, but the Bayou Bengals' D has gotten all the early buzz this season after a season-opening domination of Clemson.

The offenses will get it going, but neither team got a first down in their first series.

As much emotion as there is in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, you had to expect some early struggles from somebody.

Unfortunately for the home team, the Rebles had a long Kewan Lacy run negated by a hold, then Trinidad Chambliss threw a lateral for a big loss. Rebels go three-and-out early, and they'll need a much better effort from their defense than they had in the season opener against Louisville if they're going to have a chance.

First look we get at Sam Leavitt in this game. He appears healthy early.

Let's play some football. Ole Miss gets the ball first, and Trinidad Chambliss leads the Rebels out.

We made it through the pregame without anybody getting hurt. Thank goodness.

There aren't many folks in Oxford who like Lane Kiffin.

Maybe there's only one.

If so, that one is definitely Rebels coach Pete Golding, whom Kiffin hired to lead the defense. Golding is actually a Hammond, Louisiana, native but chose to stick around and be Ole Miss' interim coach last year for the playoffs.

This is now his program.

The two text often, and despite all the noise, they're close friends. They showed it even before this drama-dripping game.

There's always yelling from fans during college football games. But to this level? This is unbelievable.

Princewill Umanmielen is one of several players who left Ole Miss for LSU with Lane Kiffin. He was served court papers related to his departure from Oxford just three days ago.

Obviously, the timing was coordinated. He, too, is a lightning rod for barbs tonight.

If this is about who controls their emotions, it doesn't look like Lane Kiffin is doing a great job of it right now.

(Maybe embracing it will fire him and his team up.)

As Kiffin leaves the field, he chucks a ball into the Rebels crowd toward the recruiting section. This probably won't be the last we hear of this pregame decision.

So, Rebels fans can't throw anything at him, but he can at them? Interesting.

I'll say this for the LSU Tigers: They aren't even trying to shy away from the storylines.

Former Ole Miss coach and current LSU running backs coach Kevin Smith is jawing back with Rebels fans giving it to him before the game. Smith barking back that the best RBs to ever come through Oxford are because of him is wild.

Deuce McAllister and John Avery may have something to say about that, Kevin.

Lane Kiffin has a way with former fans.

Back in October of 2021, he returned to Knoxville as Ole Miss' head coach leading his own program for the first time against the Tennessee Volunteers, whom he so famously left for USC back after the 2009 season.

Vols fans welcomed him by throwing mustard bottles and other things in his general direction.

Ole Miss is trying to keep history from repeating itself with tensions high in Oxford. Wonder if it will be enforced...

We are less than 15 minutes away from probably the biggest spectacle college football will offer us this season, and as you see above, Mississippi is ready for Lane Kiffin's return.

Everybody wants to talk the subplots, and rightfully so. But if you dig down through all the drama, the importance of this game is monumental for both of these programs. That doesn't just go for this year, either. You don't want to be hyperbolic, but beating Kiffin could be the catalyst for Pete Golding's program.

If Kiffin's Bayou Bengals beat Ole Miss, it could kick-start a College Football Playoff run.

The key to this game -- to me -- is which strength wins out? Will it be LSU's lightning-quick defense? Or the Rebels' quick-strike offense? Are we going to have a shootout, or will these offenses be tight.

We're all about to find out. And we'll dissect all the off-the-field stuff in between, too.