Photo by: Bayou State Media Staff
Garrett Nussmeier and the LSU Tigers faced one of their toughest challenges of the season Saturday night against the ninth-ranked Ole Miss Rebels. Despite struggling for much of the game, Nussmeier stepped up when it counted most, helping to seal a 29-26 overtime win with a game-saving drive and a single clutch throw.
The game, held in Tiger Stadium, was hard-fought throughout. Nussmeier, though far from his best for the majority of the night, showed resilience, orchestrating a late fourth-quarter touchdown drive to tie the game at 23-23. Then, in the first play of overtime, he launched a 25-yard pass to Kyren Lacy in the end zone, handing LSU the victory and sending fans into a frenzy.
Head coach Brian Kelly praised the team’s grit, noting, “These players never stopped believing they could win.”
The victory seemed far from certain as LSU’s offense had been out of sync for most of the night. Nussmeier himself admitted it was “the worst game” of his career up until the late heroics. The Tigers’ running game was mostly ineffective, and they squandered multiple scoring opportunities. The defense, however, held strong and kept LSU in the game despite offensive misfires.
The turning point came late in the fourth quarter when Nussmeier found wide receiver Aaron Anderson on a pivotal 23-yard touchdown pass. With just 27 seconds left in regulation and LSU facing a critical fourth-and-5 situation, Nussmeier delivered a perfectly placed pass in a tight window over the middle. Anderson made the grab, falling into the end zone to tie the game and send it to overtime.
In the extra period, Ole Miss responded with a record-setting 57-yard field goal, but LSU answered immediately. Nussmeier’s game-winning pass to Lacy in the front corner of the end zone was a precise throw that ignited the stadium. The Tigers’ fans rushed the field as celebration erupted across Tiger Stadium.
Lacy later revealed that he had a brief conversation with former LSU star Odell Beckham Jr. just before the play, confidently telling him, “I’m about to kill the game.”
With this win, LSU boosted its record to 5-1 and 2-0 in SEC play, moving into College Football Playoff contention. Ole Miss, now 5-2, saw its own postseason hopes dim as they fell further behind in the SEC race. LSU is now looking ahead to securing a spot in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff, with the regular season nearing its midway point.
Unlike last season’s high-scoring shootout between the two teams, this year’s contest was defined by gritty defense. The 2023 game saw a staggering 104 combined points, but this time, both sides struggled to reach the end zone. Neither team had more than 17 points as late as the third quarter, and LSU’s offense, in particular, was notably sluggish in the early going.
The Tigers’ offensive performance was their most inconsistent of the season. During the first half, they punted on three occasions, turned the ball over on downs once, and threw an interception. Converting just 6 of 16 third-down attempts, LSU found itself settling for field goals on several possessions where touchdowns could have broken the game open.
Nussmeier, starting as quarterback, faced one of the toughest outings of his career. He completed just 22 of 51 passes, a 43% completion rate, and threw two interceptions. His early attempts were shaky—missing targets and throwing into tight coverage—but his perseverance in the final minutes allowed him to rally the team when it was needed the most. Though Nussmeier had his struggles, Kelly praised his quarterback’s growth, stating, “He showed more maturity today than at any other point since he’s been here.”
On the defensive side, LSU’s players took on the challenge of containing Ole Miss after last season’s 706-yard performance by the Rebels. Sophomore linebacker Whit Weeks, who registered 18 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble, shared how the defense quietly motivated itself to redeem last year’s embarrassing loss. “We didn’t talk about it publicly, but in the locker room, we were determined to get back at them,” Weeks said.
The defense consistently made key stops, keeping Ole Miss out of the end zone and limiting them to field goals in crucial moments. Senior defensive back Major Burns was a standout, contributing 1.5 sacks, multiple tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Senior defensive end Bradyn Swinson also had a dominant game, leading LSU with two sacks.
Despite their struggles, LSU’s offense ultimately found a way to come through when it mattered. After being held to just three second-half points until their last-minute touchdown drive, the Tigers broke through in the final moments. Nussmeier’s final throws turned the tide of a game that had seemed all but lost.
As LSU looks ahead, tougher tests await. The Tigers will hit the road for back-to-back games against Arkansas and Texas A&M, matchups that could further define their championship aspirations. However, Kelly remains optimistic, acknowledging that his team is hitting its stride at the right time.
“Some teams start strong and fizzle out,” Kelly said. “This team is getting better and better as we go.”
With the season nearing its critical stretch, LSU will aim to build on this hard-fought victory and continue its push toward the College Football Playoff.
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