No. 13 LSU shocks No. 9 Ole Miss with comeback OT win in crucial SEC game

Garrett Nussmeier hit Kyren Lacy down the right sideline for a 25-yard touchdown pass on LSU’s first play of overtime, giving the No. 13 Tigers a thrilling 29-23 victory over No. 9 Ole Miss.

Caden Davis hit a 57-yard field goal for the Rebels on the first possession of overtime. The offense was forced back to the LSU 40-yard line after a holding penalty and a false start, both against offensive lineman Reese McIntyre.

LSU scored the game-winning touchdown with 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter on a 23-yard pass from Garrett Nussmeier to Aaron Anderson. The Tigers got into position with a 19-yard pass from Nussmeier to Mason Taylor to get the ball to the Ole Miss 38-yard line.

Taylor thought he escaped a tackle to score a touchdown, but officials correctly concluded that his elbow had hit the ground as he turned down the field. But four plays later, LSU found itself in the end zone.

Nussmeier threw for 312 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions and completed 21 of 50 passes. Lacy had five balls for 111 yards and the game-winning score. Aaron Anderson added 81 yards and a TD on three catches.

Ole Miss took a 17-7 lead less than two minutes before halftime when Tre Harris caught a 15-yard pass from Dart over LSU safety Major Burns in the end zone.

The Tigers appeared to score a touchdown with 44 seconds left in the first half when Garrett Nussmeier made a desperation 16-yard throw off his back foot to Zavion Thomas.

Thomas made a diving attempt to make a catch in the end zone, but a replay showed the ball hit the ground. LSU had to settle for a field goal and a deficit of 17:10.

Still, LSU had an opportunity to tie the score just before halftime when Henry Parrish Jr. fumbled a three-yard catch and Whit Weeks recovered. Parrish was initially ruled out, but a replay overturned the decision, giving the Tigers the ball at the Ole Miss 28-yard line.

However, Nussmeier threw three incomplete passes, two of which were near-touchdowns. LSU had to settle for another field goal to take the game to the locker room at 17-13.

The Rebels took a 10-0 lead with a 50-yard run by Ulysses Bentley IV for the game’s first touchdown.

Jaxson Dart threw for 284 yards and completed 24 of 42 passes with one touchdown and one interception. Cayden Lee led the Rebels with 132 yards receiving on nine receptions. And Harris finished the game with seven catches for 102 yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury. Bentley also rushed for 107 yards and scored on 11 carries.

LSU improves to 2-0 in the SEC – one of three undefeated teams in the conference with Texas A&M (3-0) and Texas (2-0) – and 5-1 overall. Ole Miss falls to 5-2 and 1-2 in conference play.