No. 13 LSU at No. 20 Ole Miss: What To Watch For

The Tigers hit the road to Oxford with a chance to remain unbeaten in conference play, face fiery Rebels squad.

No. 13 LSU hits the road once again this weekend with a matchup against No. 20 Ole Miss sitting in front of them.

It’ll be a showdown between two of the top coaches in the SEC when Brian Kelly faces off against Lane Kiffin in Oxford with an opportunity to make a statement in the division.

What are the headliners ahead of the matchup? What must LSU accomplish in order to come away with a victory?

What To Watch For:

Brian Kelly vs. Lane Kiffin

The plays will be made between the lines Saturday night in Oxford but Kelly and Kiffin present two of the best minds in all of college football facing off in a key SEC matchup.

Despite the two operating differently, their strategy and scheme has become effective in the ways they need them to be. 

For Kiffin, he’s a boisterous, loud coach who presents a “players coach” type of feel. As for Kelly, he’s a CEO-type figure in the locker room and carries himself as such. Polar opposites, their ways get the job done.

Come Saturday, it’ll be a monster matchup between a pair of programs prepared to show out in Vaught Hemingway Stadium. A primetime showdown with Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart facing off under the bright lights presents an electrifying night in Oxford.

The Quarterback Battle: Daniels vs. Dart

Jayden Daniels has asserted himself as the top signal-caller in the SEC with room for improvement still. He’s taken his game to the next level after dropping the season opener to Florida State and the Tigers are reaping the benefits of their elite-level quarterback. He’s finding his groove and allowing his previous mistakes to teach him the way.

"He was not in great rhythm early [against Arkansas]. He saw that. He sensed that. The experience that he's had, to allow himself to find that rhythm that he needed, is the difference,” Kelly said on Saturday. “He made the self corrections based on the experience that he's had before."

On the other side of the field will be second-year signal caller for Ole Miss, Jaxson Dart. Dart presents a certain dynamic this LSU defense must be ready for. He can extend plays with his legs while scrambling outside of the pocket but also has the ability to sit in the pocket, take a hit and deliver a ball on the money.

The Daniels vs. Dart dynamic will be one to monitor given the two have a certain swagger and tenacity about them that’s meant for the bright lights of an SEC matchup in Oxford.

The Rushing Attack

Ole Miss has fallen back on sophomore running back Quinshon Judkins to carry the load of their offense time and time again. This season? The exact same scenario. 

Judkins totaled over 1500 yards as a freshman in 2022 and is seeing his game hit that next gear this season, even if the box score doesn’t show it. 

He’s a player the Tigers must circle at all times, and with LSU’s defensive front shining as of late, it presents a key matchup for Saturday’s showdown.

As for LSU’s rushing attack, it remains a work in progress. With eight scholarship backs on roster, there are several mouths to feed, but Notre Dame transfer Logan Diggs is beginning to separate himself from the pack. 

The first-year Tiger has played a key role in unlocking the run-game for this program and has allowed LSU to present a balanced offensive attack over the last three weeks.

“I think it’s comprehensive,” Brian Kelly said of the success in the rushing attack. “It’s the offensive line doing a great job of combination blocks. I think the backs are running hard, with intent. We’re not looking to bounce it out. We’re low pads, taking four, five, six yards and putting ourselves in good down and distance accordingly.”