LSU comes back from early deficit to topple Ole Miss in Brian Kelly’s first signature win

As the first quarter ended Saturday afternoon in Tiger Stadium, LSU trailed another Power Five team by double-digits. Ole Miss had bucked its run-heavy tendencies and picked LSU apart through the air, making the defense look overmatched.

The No. 7 Rebels kicked a field goal to start the second quarter and take a 17-3 lead. Early deficits when everything looks lost have become routine for this LSU team. But so have comebacks. And like they have multiple times already this year, the Tigers began to chip away.

By the end, LSU had beaten Ole Miss 45-20 for the first signature win in coach Brian Kelly’s tenure. Two weeks after getting run out of their own stadium by a ranked team, the Tigers improved to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Southeastern Conference. They moved into a tie for first-place in the SEC West with an open date before they host Alabama.

Kelly hugged quarterback Jayden Daniels on the field while the LSU student section began to spill onto the field. They swarmed the turf and climbed over the fence to form a mass of crowded humanity in the middle of the field, where they chanted and sang along with the band.

After Ole Miss took the 17-3 lead, the Tigers went on a 42-3 run. The defense, which allowed two straight touchdowns to open the game, didn’t let one of the most explosive teams in the country reach the end zone on its last eight full possessions. The offense was efficient for the second consecutive week as Daniels accounted for five touchdowns. And LSU’s troubled special teams units didn’t make an egregious mistake.

LSU fell behind again at first. The Tigers had a player offsides on the opening kickoff, and Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart completed three passes for 70 yards to reach the goal line. Once Quinshon Judkins scored on a short run, LSU had allowed an opening touchdown drive in five straight Power Five games.

Ole Miss (7-1, 3-1 SEC) stretched its lead as coach Lane Kiffin bucked the Rebels’ run-heavy tendencies. Quarterback Jaxson Dart was 9 of 10 for 156 yards in the first quarter, and after LSU settled for a field goal on its opening possession, he led another touchdown drive aided by three pass interference penalties.

One of them erased an interception. Another prevented LSU from getting off the field on fourth down.

At that point, LSU began to make defensive adjustments. It tweaked its coverages and used electric freshman linebacker Harold Perkins more. Ole Miss had to settle for a field goal in the red zone to start the second quarter, and with LSU trailing 17-3, Daniels directed the first of two straight touchdown drives.

With LSU at the Ole Miss 34-yard line, senior wide receiver Jaray Jenkins broke wide open down the sideline. Daniels underthrew a wobbly pass, nearly letting two defenders make up enough ground to knock it away, but Jenkins adjusted. He cut between them and scored.

After LSU forced a three-and-out for the first time, Daniels completed a short throw to freshman tight end Mason Taylor, who turned upfield and gained 38 yards. Daniels tossed another to Kayshon Boutte for a 20-yard gain to put LSU at the goal line. He kept a zone read on the next play, made a defender miss and trotted into the end zone to tie the game.

Though Ole Miss took a 20-17 lead into halftime, LSU dominated after the break. The Tigers forced a three-and-out on Ole Miss’ first possession, and Daniels drove into Ole Miss territory.

When Kelly went for it on fourth-and-1 at the 30-yard line, running back Josh Williams gained 8 yards. Then he picked up 9, and freshman right tackle Emery Jones waved his arms to pump up the crowd. Four plays later, LSU used four tight ends on third-and-goal. Daniels pulled a handoff, rolled right and dumped a short touchdown to Taylor for LSU’s first lead.

Ole Miss drove inside LSU’s 10-yard line on the ensuing possession. But then senior linebacker Micah Baskerville came through the line and crushed Dart as he threw toward the end zone. Safety Joe Foucha picked off the throw with one hand.

LSU scored two more times on Daniels keepers to seal the game. A week after Daniels made a leap as a passer, he completed 75% of his passes (21 of 28) for 248 yards. Daniels, who was used on more designed runs, also rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

As a team, LSU rushed 48 times for 252 yards. The Tigers’ offensive line got consistent push up front to help LSU average 6.1 yards per carry with sacks removed.

Daniels’ second touchdown essentially sealed the game. Then LSU got another stop and Williams scored to push him over 100 total yards. Appropriately, LSU finished off Ole Miss with a sack.

The student section rushed the field, and for the first time in two years, LSU football was a contender again.