LSU, Ole Miss set for massive rivalry game amid Lane Kiffin drama
All eyes are on Oxford, Mississippi, this weekend as Louisiana State University head coach Lane Kiffin returns to play the University of Mississippi, known as Ole Miss, the team he unceremoniously departed from last year.
Kiffin's departure drew shock and criticism from some, as he left Ole Miss University after coaching the team to a near-perfect 11-1 season, just before the team appeared in the College Football Playoff.
Adding to the drama is the fact that Ole Miss and LSU are already longtime rivals -- with the two schools located just hours away from each other and both competing in the SEC -- and the fact that Kiffin faced controversy earlier this season by attempting to add two former NFL players to his team's roster.
Kiffin returns to Oxford on Saturday with several coaches and players who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU this season.
Here is everything to know about the high drama surrounding Kiffin's return to Oxford, Mississippi, this weekend.
When did Lane Kiffin leave Ole Miss for LSU?
Kiffin announced he would be leaving Ole Miss, where he had coached for six seasons, on Nov. 30, 2025, just weeks before the team was scheduled to play in their first College Football Playoff game.
"After a lot of prayer and time spent with family, I made the difficult decision to accept the head coaching position at LSU," Kiffin wrote on X at the time.
Controversy followed Kiffin leaving the team prior to their appearance in the College Football Playoff, the circumstances of which Kiffin and Ole Miss Athletic Director Keith Carter have publicly disagreed about.
Pete Golding, the current Ole Miss coach, was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach when Kiffin left.
Ole Miss went on to finish the season No. 3 in the final AP poll.
Why was an LSU player served court papers by Ole Miss?
The drama between the two teams extended off-the-field as ESPN reported this week that Princewill Umanmielen, an LSU defensive end, was served with court papers in connection with the ongoing lawsuit from his former team Ole Miss.
Why is LSU's QB possibly not playing?
According to ESPN, LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was listed as "questionable" for the big game against Ole Miss.
Leavitt threw for 344 yards and one touchdown in last week's LSU win over Louisiana Tech.
Where are LSU, Ole Miss in the rankings?
Adding to the drama of the weekend is the current college football rankings, placing LSU and Ole Miss neck-and-neck.
Heading into the weekend, LSU is the No. 7 rank while Ole Miss is the No. 8 rank in the AP top 25 rankings.
Ole Miss defeated LSU 24-19 the last time the two teams met, which was Sept. 27, 2025, also at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford.
How is Morgan Freeman involved in Saturday's game?
Morgan Freeman has been announced the guest picker on ESPN College GameDay, helping Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee and more analysts pick winners for the college football slate ahead.
In an announcement, McAfee announced that Freeman would be the special guest, adding that Freeman was an honorary alumni of Ole Miss and grew up in Mississippi. ESPN College Gameday is taking place Saturday in Oxford.
"I'm looking forward to being there on Saturday, and I'm looking forward to this game," Freeman said .
LSU plays Ole Miss in Oxford at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 on ESPN.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News and ESPN.
