Lane Kiffin’s squad fell short in Oxford during a dramatic Week 3 slate defined by high-stakes thrillers, stunning upsets, and dramatic late-game collapses across college football.
Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss Stun No. 7 LSU in Oxford
Lane Kiffin spent Saturday night bathing in the hate of his biggest haters as his old team, No. 9 Mississippi, came up with a late defensive stand and beat his new one, No. 7 LSU, 32-24. Things looked clear at the break, after Trinidad Chambliss executed a perfect two-minute drive and found Deuce Alexander for a touchdown and a 24-7 lead. That came after LSU finally moved the football with a 75-yard drive to get on the board.
LSU would open things up in the third quarter, developing a rhythm and adjusting to take back momentum after Chambliss tossed an interception at his own 33-yard line three minutes into the second half. After Ole Miss went back in front on a 14-yard touchdown run by Chambliss in the fourth quarter, Leavitt pass on 4th and goal with under a minute to play would be tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted to seal the emotional win. The on-the-field meaning: Ole Miss already has two very good wins in LSU and Louisville, and down the road this win could mean the difference in determining an at-large College Football Playoff bid. Or even a spot in the SEC championship game.
With 363 yards and three total touchdowns in an upset victory, Chambliss is instead creating an unmatched legacy in Oxford. Following his performance, Chambliss took over as the betting favorite to win the Heisman Trophy.
More Week 3 Standouts and Action Across College Football
We got an entertaining slate of action in College Football Week 3, from a stunning upset at Kyle Field to some jaw-dropping performances across the country. As the slate of games starts to draw to a close, it’s now time to take a look at the standouts and disappointments from Saturday. Jeremiah Smith is now the Ohio State Buckeyes’ all-time leader in receiving yards and he achieved it in just 32 games. The All-American wideout might not have put up eye-popping numbers in Saturday’s win over Kent State, but it deserves recognition when you overtake the likes of Emeka Egbuka, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Cris Carter. Smith (30 receiving touchdowns) will also break the Buckeyes’ career receiving touchdowns record (Olave, 35). The receptions record (205) will be his, too. Days after his son resigned as defensive coordinator amid another scandal involving the football program, Bill Belichick found himself in position for his first monumental win as the North Carolina Tar Heels head coach. Against a struggling Clemson Tigers team, North Carolina led 17-3 at Memorial Stadium late in the second quarter. Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz is the weirdest quarterback in the Power 4, which is saying something, considering the journeys of both quarterbacks in Ole Miss’s win over LSU on Saturday. Kienholz arrived on the banks of the Ohio River not having started a game since his days at T.F. Riggs High School in Pierre, S.D. Among fans at Ohio State, his old school, he was primarily known for a poor relief performance in the 2023 Cotton Bowl against Missouri. And yet! There was Kienholz going ball-for-ball with Rebels gunslinger Trinidad Chambliss on Sept. 6. On Saturday, there was Kienholz imposing his will against SMU in the ranked-vs.-ranked game America forgot. Thanks to his 177 yards and two passing touchdowns, Louisville established itself as an ACC contender. College football’s Week 3 slate looked like it had a few memorable matchups, but it delivered a weekend that we’ll remember for a while. Headlining the list is the performance of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who wrested away the Heisman board with his incredible performance against Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss. Even back to Friday, No. 13 Texas Tech survived a battle with No. 22 Houston in an instant classic in Lubbock, while No. 5 Miami got a nearly record-setting performance from QB Darian Mensah. Then, No. 23 Louisville beat No. 16 SMU to take control of the ACC title race, and Kentucky picked up its first top 10 victory under coach Will Stein.
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