It looks like the loser of the Oregon-Penn State game won’t be the only top-six team dropping in the rankings next week.
No. 4 LSU, who looked like one of the nation’s most impressive teams with convincing wins over Clemson and Florida amid a 4-0 start, were stunned on the road against No. 13 Ole Miss today. In what has been a recurring theme this season, the Tigers’ offense just couldn’t seem to get going, scoring only seven points in the first half while Ole Miss raced out to a 17-7 lead.
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LSU countered with two field goals in the third quarter to bring the game within a touchdown, but Ole Miss added a touchdown in the fourth to take a two-score lead. The Tigers managed to get a touchdown back on the ensuing drive, but couldn’t stop Ole Miss’ offense on the final drive, allowing the Rebels to run out the clock. Ole Miss won the game 24-19.
A huge win for Ole Miss
The Rebels were already a team on the upswing heading into this game, rising from a preseason No. 21 all the way to No. 13 despite an underwhelming crop of opponents. But now that they’ve beaten LSU – a team widely regarded as one of the top squads in the country – they have the signature win which will vault them into the top-10 in the next poll.
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Ole Miss will now get a bye week to rest up before what should be an easy game against Washington State.
Then things get a bit tougher.
A road game against Georgia looms the week after, followed by another road game against Oklahoma (who might have star QB John Mateer back by then).
If Ole Miss can beat Georgia and Oklahoma, then things will be looking extremely strong for them as their November schedule consists of South Carolina, The Citadel (non-conference), Florida and finally arch-rival Mississippi State. There’s a very real chance that Ole Miss goes 4-0 in November.
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11-1 or even 10-2 could be enough to get Ole Miss into the SEC Championship Game. Failing that, the College Football Playoff is still well within their grasp.
Sep 6, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images© Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
As for LSU…
The loss to Ole Miss will certainly hurt in the short term and might wind up being a serious missed opportunity down the road. But they get a bye week to lick their wounds before an October that features South Carolina, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M.
Worse still, their win over Clemson in Week 1 no longer looks nearly as impressive as it felt back in late-August due to Clemson’s recent struggles. By the time they return home to take on South Carolina, they could find themselves tumbling down the top-25.
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This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.