By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
In LSU’s second appearance on ESPN’s “College GameDay” in just the first two weeks of the 2026 season, the panel favored the Rebels 3-1 in its predictions for the feature matchup between No. 7 LSU and No. 8 Ole Miss. Seven-time national champion head coach and former Tigers coach Nick Saban was the only one to picked the Tigers.
Kickoff between the Tigers and Rebels is set for 6:30 p.m. Oxford, Mississippi’s Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (ABC).
Former Michigan wide receiver and 1991 Heisman Trophy Winner Desmond Howard kicked off the picks by siding with Ole Miss.
“The home team has won 12 of the last 14, including six straight,” he said. “Trinidad (Chambliss’s) number is six. On the desk with the great Morgan Freeman, Hotty Toddy y’all.”
Saban then complimented the post-Lane Kiffin Rebels before he backed coordinator Blake Baker’s LSU defense.
“I think Trinidad Chambliss is the most dynamic player in college football. I think (Kewan) Lacy’s the best running back in football. I love Pete Golding as a defensive coach, and I think he’ll have them ready. But defense travels, and LSU has the better defense. And I’m thinking LSU.”
Legendary Academy Award-winning actor and honorary Ole Miss alumnus Morgan Freeman was the celebrity guest picker in Oxford. The “voice of God” picked his honorary alma mater.
“If I go for what’s his name (Lane Kiffin), I will not be able to go home tonight. That’s a fact,” Freeman said, “so in spite of my belief in your (Saban’s) every thought – Ole Miss!”
Former NFL All-Pro and West Virginia All-American punter and kicker Pat McAfee recalled saying the Tigers could win the national championship by 50 last week before being swept away by the home atmosphere in The Grove.
“You step foot in this incredibly hot state. You feel the energy from these fine folks. You can tell that hate can certainly motivate, and it does feel like, in college football, if that stadium’s upside-down, anything can happen,” McAfee said.
“Give me Ole Miss to beat Lane Kiffin as the football gods and actual god (Freeman) say, ‘there’s some football justice in this world,’” he finished.
He did slide in one other comment during his pick.
“I still believe that LSU can win the national championship,” McAfee said with a hand over his mouth.
Former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit did not pick the game because he will call the ABC broadcast of the matchup.
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