Lane Kiffin isn’t ready to hand out labels, but Trinidad Chambliss keeps stacking wins. Scoreboard says 24-19, but Chambliss is playing like it’s 24/7. The redshirt freshman stepped in again with Austin Simmons sidelined and delivered his 3rd straight win as Ole Miss stayed perfect at 5-0. Against No. 4 LSU, Chambliss lit it up for 314 yards through the air. Then he tossed a TD and added 71 more on the ground. And he kept his composure despite one pick. That makes three starts and 3 victories for the Rebels. Consequently, HC Kiffin tipped his cap to Trinidad Chambliss for his heroic Week 5 moment. But here’s the twist.

Lane Kiffin couldn’t hide his pride in Chambliss. “He was pretty emotional afterwards,” said Kiffin. “We had a really cool hug, and he told me, ‘I love ya.’ He was just so appreciative of the opportunity. It’s just a really cool story.” But Kiffin didn’t stop there. “I like good stories,” he added. “Here’s a little short kid from Division II going against Nussmeier and the Mighty Tigers at little Ole Miss. So, it was really cool. And for him to go out of bounds like he shouldn’t, and then make a play to end it, that was awesome.” So, Chambliss didn’t just fill in for the injured Simmons. He went toe-to-toe with LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, a projected 1st-round NFL draft pick, and outplayed him. In short, from Division II underdog to Rebel hero, Chambliss is turning his chance into a story. And a milestone is on the way.

Trinidad Chambliss just made SEC history, becoming the first player in 30 years to post 300 passing yards and 50 rushing yards in 3 straight games. Yet, despite the milestone, Lane Kiffin isn’t ready to name him QB1. “We’ve got a bye week coming up,” stated Kiffin in the post-game conference. “It’s a good problem to have. I don’t have that answer right now… We have two really good quarterbacks, and that’s a really good thing to have.” So for now, Chambliss owns the spotlight, but the starting job is still up in the air. Although the numbers paint a clear picture.

Chambliss has racked up 974 yards and 5 TDs, plus 258 rushing yards, while Simmons sits at 580 yards and 4 TDs. So yes, Chambliss may have the edge on Simmons, but nothing is settled in Oxford just yet. Ole Miss has bigger wrinkles to iron out. The Rebels racked up 14 penalties for 109 yards: the sloppiest start of the Kiffin era. Still, they flipped the script on LSU, stoning the Tigers to just 57 rushing yards. “We wanted it more,” said safety Wydett Williams Jr., “simple as that.” But protected by a flawless O-line that gave up zero sacks, Chambliss steered Ole Miss to 480 yards vs a top SEC defense. And that’s why after the win, he called it “a dream come true,” thanking God, Coach Kiffin, and the Rebels’ staff for the chance to showcase his talent. Now, while the Rebels are celebrating, LSU’s QB is left frustrated.

Trinidad Chambliss’ play snapped LSU’s unbeaten streak

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier was all business after the Tigers’ first loss of the season, refusing to dwell on himself. “I’m not going to answer any questions about my health right now,” he said. “I’m frustrated about the loss and just looking to get back, watch the tape, find ways to get better.” Still, Nussmeier finished 21-of-34 for 197 yards and a TD, admitting LSU never found its rhythm in the first half. “We didn’t play good enough early on… Our defense was not able to get stops, and we needed to take advantage. That’s what [Coach Kelly] means by complimentary football. And so it’s frustrating.” But where did things fall apart?

The Tigers’ ground game showed flashes but lacked consistency. “I think we did a good job running the ball in the second half,” mentioned Nussmeier. “That’s an area we’ve continued to try and improve on.” More importantly, execution errors were the difference in Oxford. “We were able to drive the football, but we just kept shooting ourselves in the foot again,” he admitted. However, he didn’t stop there.

According to Nuss, staying ahead of the chains proved to be a major problem for LSU, as promising first-down plays often turned into long second-and-twenty situations. Although with a bye week ahead, Nussmeier and the Tigers hope to reset, address execution issues, and get back on track. But for now, frustration hangs heavy over Baton Rouge.