The countdown to the most anticipated game on LSU's early season schedule is closer than ever. No. 7 LSU travels to Oxford to face No. 8 Ole Miss on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 p.m. CT. Monday brought the first real wave of hype surrounding the game, starting with Lane Kiffin himself.
Kiffin held his weekly news conference Monday to discuss preparations for facing his former team for the first time since leaving Oxford for Baton Rouge late last season. It's a storyline that has been circled on everyone's calendars since the SEC released its schedule. Kiffin spent six years building Ole Miss into a perennial 10 win program, but left abruptly just before the college football playoffs to accept the open head coaching job at LSU. Ole Miss fans sent him off with jeers as he boarded a flight for Baton Rouge, two days after the Rebels closed a program record 11 win regular season.
Kiffin reportedly had a meeting with Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter to discuss the possibility of him continuing to coach in the playoffs while also accepting LSU's offer for the following season. Carter denied his request and Kiffin announced his decision to take the offer at LSU the next day. Ole Miss fans and the college football world have had countless things to say, with the hype around the matchup building ever since.
Expect Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, which seats just over 64,000, to be as hostile an environment as Kiffin has walked into in some time.
This isn't just Kiffin's return. A handful of players are heading back to Oxford for the first time since transferring to LSU also. Defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and linebacker TJ Dottery, along with wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. and offensive lineman Devin Harper, all followed Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU and will be making the trip back to Vaught-Hemingway as opponents for the first time.
LSU enters the game unbeaten through two weeks, dominating both Clemson and Louisiana Tech inside Tiger Stadium to open the season. Ole Miss is also undefeated, most recently rolling past Charlotte 41-9 in its home opener and kicking a game winning field goal in their first week matchup against Louisville.
This game has carried its own tradition and trophy since 2008: The Magnolia Bowl. LSU leads the all-time series 64-43-4, but Ole Miss won the last meeting after last year's 24-19 result. The game this Saturday airs live on ABC, with ESPN's College Gameday making the trip to Oxford.
With both programs sitting at 2-0, each ranked in the top 10, and a coach walking back into the building he used to run, this year's edition of the rivalry has as much drama as any LSU game this season. TigerSources will have full coverage as the week builds toward kickoff Saturday in Oxford.
— Eric Palmer, TigerSources