By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
Ole Miss exacted its revenge on LSU coach Lane Kiffin in this week’s EA Sports College Football 27 simulation of the Southeastern Conference clash between No. 7 LSU (2-0) and No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0) at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
The Rebels took the 38-36 win over the Tigers on a 48-yard field goal by senior Lucas Carneiro in the final minutes of the game. Interestingly, Kiffin, who signed Carneiro from the transfer portal before the 2025 season, said on Monday that Carneiro is the best kicker in the country. Carneiro enters Saturday’s real game (6:30 p.m., ABC) 19 of 22 in his career on field goals from 40 to 49 yards.
EA expects the Tigers to be exposed by the Ole Miss rushing attack. All five of the Rebels’ touchdowns came against the No. 2 rushing defense in the nation (18.5 yards allowed per game), which allows 265 yards on the ground, EA says. Junior running back Kewan Lacy led the way with 17 carries for 138 yards and two scores. He had four runs of 20-plus yards, broke six tackles and 106 yards of his production came after contact.
Michigan State junior transfer running back Makhi Frazier also ran 14 times for 89 yards. Sixth-year quarterback Trinidad Chambliss found the end zone and so did sophomore transfer running back JT Lindsey, formerly of LSU. Chambliss completed 14 of 22 passes for 218 yards and threw one interception to LSU linebacker Whit Weeks.
“We’ll see. We’re still not there yet. We’re still looking at everything.” … Lane Kiffin on QB Sam Leavitt’s injury at halftime of his son Knox’s prep game Thursday night. “Hopefully, everything will be good.” https://t.co/WeXOCPGZwd
— Glenn Guilbeau (@SportBeatTweet) September 18, 2026
LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was sensational and healthy despite being listed as doubtful and questionable on real SEC availability reports on Wednesday and Thursday. He connected on 34 of 45 passes for 396 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He was also LSU’s leading rusher, taking 11 carries for 126 yards. The Tigers’ offense outgained Ole Miss 619 yards to 483 yards, but a slow start and a missed opportunity in the closing minutes cost them the game.
Ole Miss opened the night with a 23-yard touchdown run from Lacy at the 12-minute, 54-second mark of the first quarter. Carneiro hit a 53-yard field goal to make it a 10-0 Rebels lead at the end of the first.
LSU responded with an 11-yard pass from Leavitt to Hawaii transfer receiver Jackson Harris midway through the second quarter, and a 12-yard touchdown reception by Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown with 35 seconds before halftime gave the Tigers’ their first lead of the game. Harris and Brown would finish the game as LSU’s top receivers. Harris hauled in nine catches for 104 yards and the TD, and Brown went for 112 yards and the score on seven receptions.
LSU tight end Trey’Dez Green and wide receiver Winnie Watkins also caught seven passes each. Watkins, an Ole Miss transfer, was third on the team with 76 yards while Green’s 68 yards followed closely behind. Florida transfer receiver Eugene Wilson III was held to just one catch for 9 yards.
Up 14-10 at the half, LSU extended the lead with a Dilin Jones 1-yard touchdown run. Ole Miss quickly cut the lead back down with another explosive 26-yard touchdown run from Lacy, but a failed two-point conversion kept the score at 16-21. The Rebels regained the lead five minutes later on a Chambliss 3-yard scramble but again could not convert the two-point try to keep it a one-point game. Lindsey closed out the 19-point third quarter for the Rebels with a 10-yard rush to the end zone.
LSU now found itself trailing again, this time by eight points early in the fourth quarter. Jones scored his second TD on LSU’s first drive of the fourth, this one from 14 yards out. Then it was the Tigers’ turn to attempt a two-point conversion, but they too were unsuccessful, leaving Ole Miss ahead 29-27. Kicker Scott Starzyk quickly rectified that on their next possession with an 18-yard field goal to take a one-point lead.
With just over eight minutes left in the contest, Frazier broke off a 28-yard run for Ole Miss to put the Rebels back in front, but again a failed two-point attempt could not extend the lead to seven. LSU running back Stacy Gage found the end zone, and yet another two-point try came up empty. The Tigers led 36-35 with 5:44 on the clock.
Chambliss and the Rebels drove down to the LSU 30-yard line to set up the go-ahead 48-yard Carneiro field goal. LSU got the ball back with 3:41 left but were unable to put together a game-winning drive.
The Tiger’s scoreless first quarter and struggles on the ground were the difference-makers. EA did update the CFB 27 ratings and depth charts following the start of the season. Jones, who climbed two points to an 83-overall, was the lead back. It seems, though, that the update also included the rushing struggles LSU showed against Louisiana Tech. Jones was held to just 58 yards on his 14 carries while Gage ran for an efficient 30 yards on just five attempts.
The LSU offensive line gave up just one sack, but the Tigers’ defense had no success bringing down Chambliss in the backfield. The LSU offense dominated Ole Miss in much of the box score, but two turnovers, two failed fourth-drown conversions and a red zone field goal stopped the Tigers from getting the job done.
After the update, LSU is still a sixth-best 88-overall rating, which ties Ole Miss. Left tackle Jordan Seaton is the Tiger’s highest-rated player (93) followed by Green (92), Leavitt (90), Weeks (90) and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen (90). The Rebels’ top players are Lacy (96), Chambliss (93), linebacker Suntarine Perkins and defensive tackle Will Echoles (92).
While it may be unlikely that LSU’s fearsome defense gives up 265 rushing yards and 483 total yards of offense, the simulation does reflect real concerns. In the Tigers’ first game on the road and first game of SEC competition, self-inflicted mistakes could be killers.
LSU’s all-star transfer roster has plenty of talent, but it lacks SEC experience. An inefficient run game, turnovers, and a slow first quarter will only galvanize a hostile crowd and the team it supports. The Tigers will need to play consistent, mistake-free football if they do not want this simulation to become reality.
LSU Record vs. Simulated Games
Real Life: 2-0
Week 1: 51-10 W vs. Clemson
Week2: 45-14 W vs. LA Tech
EA Sports CFB 27: 2-1
Week 1: 44-10 W vs. Clemson
Week 2: 17-6 W vs. LA Tech
Week 3: 38-36 L at Ole Miss
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