The stage is set for one of the most anticipated showdowns of the 2025 college football season as the No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels (4-0) welcome the No. 4 LSU Tigers (4-0) to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford this Saturday, September 27. The stakes? Nothing less than a commanding position in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), with both teams eyeing playoff implications as the season’s midpoint approaches. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, and fans can catch all the action live on ABC or stream it via Fubo and ESPN’s digital platforms.
This matchup carries extra intrigue thanks to a pair of compelling quarterback storylines and some uncertainty in the Tigers’ backfield. For Ole Miss, the quarterback question dominated headlines throughout the week. Starter Austin Simmons, who suffered an ankle injury on September 6 against Kentucky, is still not fully recovered despite making progress. As a result, senior transfer Trinidad Chambliss will make his third consecutive start under center, a move confirmed by ESPN’s Pete Thamel and first reported by On3. Chambliss has stepped up in Simmons’ absence, completing 67.7% of his passes for 719 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 195 yards and two scores on 36 carries through four games. His dual-threat ability has energized the Rebels’ offense, which currently ranks ninth nationally in points per game.
Chambliss’s emergence has been a pleasant surprise for Ole Miss fans and a tactical headache for LSU’s defense. Against Arkansas, Chambliss went 21-of-29 for 353 yards and a touchdown, adding 62 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The following week, he torched Tulane with 307 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 112 rushing yards. Head coach Lane Kiffin, while coy on the weekly SEC coaches teleconference, hinted at the ongoing competition but ultimately praised both quarterbacks. “That could go through at least longer than a day,” Kiffin said. “Both guys did great today, so we’re really letting them compete it out. I would always take everything into consideration, so we’ll see as we get closer.” Simmons, a redshirt sophomore, remains available in an emergency role, but Chambliss’s hot hand keeps him in the driver’s seat.
On the other sideline, LSU’s quarterback situation is far more stable. Head coach Brian Kelly has relied on Jayden Daniels, a dual-threat talent whose ability to extend plays and deliver precise passes has kept the Tigers’ offense humming. Daniels’ leadership, combined with the playmaking of linebacker Harold Perkins on defense, has been instrumental in LSU’s undefeated start. The Tigers’ defense, ranked 17th nationally in yards allowed (246.3 per game) and ninth in scoring (9.3 points per game), will be tested by one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
“This week, both of these quarterbacks are similar. They have different skillsets, but they can run the same offense with both of these players,” Kelly observed, drawing a parallel to LSU’s own experience managing quarterback rotations in high-stakes matchups. That adaptability could be crucial as the Tigers prepare for Chambliss’s dynamic play.
LSU’s preparations, however, are clouded by uncertainty in the backfield. Sophomore running back Caden Durham, who leads the team with 213 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 52 carries, suffered an ankle injury in last week’s 56-10 win over Southeastern. Durham’s MRI results were encouraging—no high ankle sprain—but Kelly has listed him as questionable for Saturday, pending further evaluation during practice. “He could go from questionable to out or questionable to probable depending on how he moves through the remainder of practice,” Kelly said. If Durham can’t go, expect sophomore Ju’Juan Johnson, who has 52 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season, to see increased touches. Freshman Harlem Berry and junior Kaleb Jackson round out a running back room that will be under scrutiny against an Ole Miss defense that has struggled against the run, allowing an SEC-worst five yards per carry through four games.
On paper, this contest looks like a classic strength-versus-strength battle. Ole Miss boasts a high-powered offense, averaging 44.8 points and 543.3 yards per game. LSU’s defense, meanwhile, has been stingy, surrendering just 9.3 points and 246.3 yards per outing. The Rebels’ offense is led by running back Quinshon Judkins, whose ability to break tackles and gain tough yardage will be vital in establishing balance and keeping LSU’s defense honest. Quarterback Jaxson Dart, who has been instrumental in stretching the field vertically, may see action in select packages, but all eyes will be on Chambliss to see if he can keep up his torrid pace against the best defense he’s faced yet.
Oddsmakers have pegged Ole Miss as slight favorites at home, with a spread of -1.5 points and the over/under set at 54.5. The betting lines reflect just how evenly matched these teams are, and the rivalry’s history only adds to the drama. Since their first meeting in 1894, LSU and Ole Miss have squared off over 100 times, with LSU holding a narrow edge in the all-time series. Memorable clashes, like LSU’s dramatic comeback win in 2014, have cemented this matchup as one of the SEC’s most storied rivalries.
Both teams enter the contest with perfect 4-0 records, and both are ranked in the top 15 nationally. The winner will not only gain a crucial edge in the SEC standings but also keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive. For LSU, the game marks their first SEC road test of the season, adding another layer of difficulty as they travel to a raucous Oxford environment. For Ole Miss, it’s a chance to prove their offense can perform against elite competition and that their quarterback transition hasn’t slowed their momentum.
As kickoff approaches, fans and analysts alike are buzzing with anticipation. Will Chambliss continue his fairytale run and lead the Rebels to a signature win? Can LSU’s defense clamp down and overcome the uncertainty at running back? Or will this be another chapter in a rivalry defined by wild swings and unforgettable moments?
One thing is certain: with SEC supremacy and playoff dreams hanging in the balance, Saturday’s clash between Ole Miss and LSU promises to deliver drama, intensity, and more than a few surprises. Don’t blink—you won’t want to miss a second of the action in Oxford.
