The Zeitgeist List · Rivalries

Magnolia Bowl

Ole Miss42-64-4LSU
Power Program I#14 of 138–Blue Blood#10 of 138–
See both programs’ full 91-year Zeitgeist History, side by side →
This year’s game — the live preview →
12 players crossed straight to the rival since 2021 — the turncoat ledger →

LSU leads the all-time series 64-42-4. They've met 110 times since 1902. LSU once took 8 straight.

Current season

Vegas win totals and transfer-portal swing right now, plus what fans are actually saying — not history, this year.

Ole Miss
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+2
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +15
What fans are saying · player performance
fans believe the secondary has allowed too many big plays
Ole Miss, if that secondary continues to play the way they played, will be in the bottom teens/twenties, or out of the polls completely in a month. You cannot win SEC games if you can’t tackle, stop the deep ball, or keep the ball in front of you.
Verified verbatim
LSU
Win total
8.5
Vegas over/under
Transfer portal
+8
portal net points (weighted) · raw ledger: +15
What fans are saying · program direction
fans think expelling LSU would hurt the conference's reputation
I'll say this again, the SEC is not going to expel LSU. It would be a rash and shortsighted decision and would end up being the single most disastrous decision the conference ever made.
Verified verbatim

Stature & the series, 1902–2026

Both programs’ standing over time, each line named at its end, with every meeting beneath — read down to see who was bigger and who won. (Stature is each program’s season-by-season standing on the Zeitgeist List, 1936–present — one score blending on-field performance, program achievement, and roster talent.)

program stature over timeOle MissLSUevery meeting (bar height = margin; dark: Ole Miss won, gray: LSU won)192019401960198020002020

The identity war

Ole Miss was the more pass-heavy program — then LSU took it over.

Ole Miss threw it more in 12 of 15 seasons, 2004–2018. Since 2019, LSU has led 7 of 8. Real exceptions: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2026.

more passmore runOle MissLSU2004200620082010201220142016201820202022202420262019LSU 15.3 ptsLSU won 58-372026Ole Miss 6.2 ptsOle Miss won 32-242006LSU 5.1 ptsLSU won 23-20
Source team_season_stats (CFBD season totals) · pass rate = passAttempts ÷ (passAttempts + rushingAttempts)

The biggest win was LSU by 49 in 2011. The biggest crowd, 102,321, was in 2014.

The coaching duels

John Vaught vs Charles McClendon6-3-1
John Vaught vs Paul Dietzel4-3-1
John Vaught vs Gaynell Tinsley4-2-1
Harry Mehre vs Bernie Moore4-2
David Cutcliffe vs Nick Saban1-4
Ken Cooper vs Charles McClendon1-3

The draft ledger

Every NFL Draft pick either program has produced since the modern era began, decade by decade.

Draft picks
122-241
LSU leads
1st-rounders
18-40
Since
1967
First CFBD-carried draft class
Ole MissLSU
1960s9-6
1970s15-14
1980s10-31
1990s14-22
2000s22-49
2010s27-62
2020s25-57

Best picks, either side

2004Eli Manning Quarterback · San Diego ChargersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2020Joe Burrow Quarterback · Cincinnati BengalsRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
2007JaMarcus Russell Quarterback · Oakland RaidersRd 1, pick 1#1 overall
1971Archie Manning Quarterback · New Orleans SaintsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2024Jayden Daniels Quarterback · Washington CommandersRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
1973Bert Jones Quarterback · Baltimore ColtsRd 1, pick 2#2 overall
2022Derek Stingley Jr. Cornerback · Houston TexansRd 1, pick 3#3 overall
2009Tyson Jackson Defensive End · Kansas City ChiefsRd 1, pick 3#3 overall

Recent meetings

Gate premium

Ole Miss1.09×its own average home crowd

A modest gap over a small sample of games — real, but not a dramatic swing.

2026Ole Miss32-24
2025Ole Miss24-19
2024LSU29-26Ole Miss — both ranked, decided by 3
2023Ole Miss55-49
2022LSU45-20
2021Ole Miss31-17
2020LSU53-48
2019LSU58-37
2018LSU45-16
2017LSU40-24
2016LSU38-21
2015Ole Miss38-17LSU — both ranked
2014LSU10-7Ole Miss — both ranked, decided by 3
2013Ole Miss27-24

Every meeting since 2018, play by play

Each line is Ole Miss’s chance to win through that meeting. Ole Miss is 2-2 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. The loudest meeting for fans was 2026: firestorm.

2026Ole Miss 32-24Ole Miss won 32-24 vs LSU. Chance to win started at 50%, low 38%, high better than 99%.Firestorm
2025Ole Miss 24-19Ole Miss won 24-19 vs LSU. Chance to win started at 68%, low 38%, high 99%.Loud
2024LSU 29-26Ole Miss lost 26-29 at LSU. Chance to win started at 57%, low under 1%, high 95%.Busy
2023Ole Miss 55-49Ole Miss won 55-49 vs LSU. Chance to win started at 44%, low 5%, high better than 99%.Loud
2022LSU 45-20Ole Miss lost 20-45 at LSU. Chance to win started at 56%, low under 1%, high 85%.Busy
2021Ole Miss 31-17Ole Miss won 31-17 vs LSU. Chance to win started at 75%, low 40%, high 99%.
2020LSU 53-48Ole Miss lost 48-53 at LSU. Chance to win started at 51%, low 6%, high 93%.
2019LSU 58-37Ole Miss lost 37-58 vs LSU. Chance to win started at 12%, low under 1%, high 13%.
2018LSU 45-16Ole Miss lost 16-45 at LSU. Chance to win started at 24%, low under 1%, high 36%.
“I’m removing the gun from my mouth”
An Ole Miss fan
Read a quote from each meeting
  • 2026
    “I’m removing the gun from my mouth”
    An Ole Miss fan
  • 2025
    “Wow. LSU just can’t stop committing penalties. What a shameful performance.”
    An Ole Miss fan

Share the loudest meeting

This season’s plays, Ole Miss and LSU

Official highlights with our numbers, from the 11 plays on film when they met.

  1. Q3, 3:05 · LSU down 10Sam Leavitt finds Winston Watkins for a 26-yard touchdownLSU at Ole Miss, week 3Q3, 3:05 · LSU 21, Ole Miss 24▲24%LSU’s chance to win, 14% to 38%▲24%LSU’s chance to win, 14% to 38%S.Leavitt pass complete deep right to W.Watkins Jr. caught at OM00, for 26 yards to the OM00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playESPN College Football
  2. Q4, 6:14 · Ole Miss breaks the tieTrinidad Chambliss runs 14 yards for a touchdownLSU at Ole Miss, week 3Q4, 6:14 · Ole Miss 32, LSU 24Ole Miss answered right backOle Miss answered right backT.Chambliss rush left for 14 yards gain to the LSU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN J.Lindsey rush attempt SuccessfulWatch from this playESPN College Football
  3. Q4, 0:58 · LSU down 8Jaylon Braxton intercepts Sam LeavittLSU at Ole Miss, week 3Q4, 0:58 · LSU 24, Ole Miss 32▼23%LSU’s chance to win, 24% to 1%▼23%LSU’s chance to win, 24% to 1%S.Leavitt pass intercepted by J.Braxton at OM00 broken up by K.Franklin, TouchbackWatch from this playESPN College Football
  4. Q1, 2:00 · Ole Miss up 3Kewan Lacy runs 5 yards for a touchdownLSU at Ole Miss, week 3Q1, 2:00 · Ole Miss 10, LSU 0▲21%Ole Miss’s chance to win, 59% to 80%▲21%Ole Miss’s chance to win, 59% to 80%K.Lacy rush middle for 5 yards gain to the LSU00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playESPN College Football
  5. Q2, 9:49 · Ole Miss up 10Trinidad Chambliss finds Traylon Ray for a 21-yard touchdownLSU at Ole Miss, week 3Q2, 9:49 · Ole Miss 17, LSU 092Capped a 92-yard drive92Capped a 92-yard driveCapped a 92-yard driveT.Chambliss pass complete short left to T.Ray caught at LSU06, for 21 yards to the LSU00 touchdown, 1ST DOWN, kick goodWatch from this playESPN College Football
  6. Q2, 1:57 · LSU down 17Dilin Jones runs 2 yards for a touchdownLSU at Ole Miss, week 3Q2, 1:57 · LSU 7, Ole Miss 17LSU scored with 1:57 left in the halfLSU scored with 1:57 left in the halfD.Jones rush middle for 2 yards gain to the OM00 touchdown, kick goodWatch from this playESPN College Football

Meetings with their own story page

10 meetings in our archive, 2015 to 2025.