OXFORD, Miss. — In a season already brimming with storylines, the emergence of Trinidad Chambliss as the new face of Ole Miss football might just be the most captivating of them all. On a mild Saturday evening, September 27, 2025, Chambliss, a Division II transfer few outside Mississippi or Ferris State would have recognized just a month ago, led No. 13 Mississippi to a gritty 24-19 victory over the fourth-ranked LSU Tigers. The win not only preserved the Rebels’ perfect record but also thrust Chambliss into the national spotlight — and, according to his coach, Lane Kiffin, it’s a “really cool story.”
Chambliss, stepping in for the injured Austin Simmons, delivered his third straight 300-yard passing performance, finishing with 314 yards and a touchdown. That’s not just a stat — it’s a statement. “A little short kid from Division II going against Nussmeier and the mighty Tigers of LSU,” Kiffin mused after the game. “It was awesome.”
But let’s set the scene. Ole Miss (5-0, 3-0 SEC) came into this matchup riding a wave of momentum, while LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC) was looking to solidify its national title credentials. Instead, it was the Rebels who outgained the Tigers by a whopping 480 yards to 254, showcasing a balanced attack that left LSU’s defense gasping for answers. Kewan Lacy powered his way to a 15-yard touchdown run, and former LSU back Logan Diggs added a 6-yard scoring burst, helping Ole Miss rack up 166 yards on the ground. The Rebels’ offense hummed, but their ability to control the clock and grind out first downs in the closing minutes was just as crucial.
LSU, meanwhile, was hampered by injuries and a sputtering ground game. Missing top running back Caden Durham and right tackle Weston Davis, the Tigers mustered only 57 rushing yards. That put the pressure squarely on quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, a preseason Heisman hopeful who finished 21-of-34 for 197 yards with a touchdown and an interception. It wasn’t enough. As LSU coach Brian Kelly bluntly put it, “Look, Garrett Nussmeier has got to play better. Every player on offense has got to play better — and then we have to be more consistent on defense. There’s many players that have to play their best when their best is needed.”
The Tigers struck first, jumping out to a 7-0 lead. Nussmeier’s pass, intended for Trey’Dez Green in the end zone, was batted away by Sage Ryan, only to be snagged by a diving Nick Anderson for the score. But Ole Miss answered, driving deep into LSU territory for a short field goal. The Rebels then seized control in the second quarter, outgaining LSU 197 yards to 40 and scoring two touchdowns. Lacy’s 15-yard run gave Mississippi its first lead, capping a drive that benefited from four LSU penalties totaling 49 yards. Cayden Lee’s 2-yard touchdown reception just before halftime, set up by a gutsy fourth-and-1 conversion from Chambliss to tight end Dae’Quan Wright, stretched the advantage to 17-7.
LSU’s offense, which had been so explosive last year, struggled to find rhythm. Nussmeier, who had battled knee and torso injuries during August camp, hasn’t matched his 4,052-yard passing season from a year ago. After the game, he declined to discuss his health or the offense’s issues, simply stating, “Obviously, I’m frustrated about the loss. We’re going to get back, watch the tape and find ways to get better.”
The Tigers clawed back in the third quarter with two field goals from Damian Ramos, from 40 and 48 yards out, narrowing the gap to 17-13. But Ole Miss responded in the fourth. Logan Diggs, facing his old team, barreled in for a 6-yard touchdown to extend the Rebels’ lead to 24-13. Still, LSU refused to go quietly. Harlem Berry’s 6-yard touchdown run with just over five minutes left gave the Tigers hope, but their two-point conversion attempt was stuffed by Ole Miss linebacker Suntarine Perkins. That left the score at 24-19 — and set the stage for Chambliss and company to seal the deal.
With the game on the line and LSU’s defense stacking the box, Chambliss coolly ran for first downs alongside Lacy, milking precious seconds off the clock. Then, facing a critical fourth down, he found Wright for a clutch completion that allowed the Rebels to run out the clock. “That’s just how we play; I’m saying that arrogantly,” Kiffin said with a grin. “The book would tell you that too — analytics. Sometimes it works.”
Chambliss, who’s now 3-0 as a starter in the SEC, has become something of a folk hero in Oxford. Fans have started flying flags of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean nation that shares his first name. The quarterback, for his part, is taking it all in stride. “Obviously beating No. 4-ranked LSU, one of our rivals, it’s like a dream come true,” he said. “A great team win.” He added, with a smile, that his newfound stardom has brought “more notoriety and a lot more people following me” on social media. “But, I’m the same guy that came here in May — a hard worker, just want to play football and have fun and win.”
The Rebels’ defensive effort shouldn’t be overlooked, either. They held LSU to just 254 total yards and forced a key turnover when Cayden Lee’s fumble near the goal line was recovered in the end zone by safety Mansoor Delane, temporarily preserving a narrow Tigers lead. But the Ole Miss offense soon erased that deficit, and the defense never let LSU’s attack get comfortable.
For LSU, the loss isn’t just a setback in the SEC race — it raises tough questions. Their strength of schedule, once a point of pride, looks less impressive with recent stumbles by previous opponents Clemson and Florida. The Tigers will have to regroup during their bye week before hosting South Carolina on October 11. The Rebels, likewise, get a week off before a highly anticipated clash with Washington State.
So, what’s next for Chambliss and this resurgent Ole Miss squad? If the last three weeks are any indication, the sky’s the limit. With confidence growing and the SEC gauntlet heating up, the Rebels have firmly announced themselves as contenders. For now, the flags of Trinidad and Tobago will keep waving in Oxford, celebrating the improbable rise of a quarterback who’s rewriting his own story — one game at a time.
