As the college football world approached the climax of the matchup between Oregon and Ohio State, there was another chaotic end to the genesis between Ole Miss and LSU on Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

There were moments last night when it looked like Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin were going to run away from the Tigers in Death Valley. But unfortunately for the Rebels, they were never able to achieve the knockout and led the entire match until the final play in extra time.

For a game that meant so much to both teams, this one could prove to be a major disaster for the Rebels’ hopes of making the college football playoffs. As we previously discussed after the loss to Kentucky last month, Ole Miss needed to win these last two games. They took care of South Carolina but came up short against LSU, putting them in a spot where all they could do was ask for help.

After gaining 139 yards and entering the red zone twice in the first quarter, zero points were scored, which haunted the Rebels again as the fourth quarter began.

“No disrespect, it’s an electric atmosphere, but we don’t tackle, block or miss any kicks. We should have won that game,” Lane Kiffin said after the loss.

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 12: Fans rush the field after the LSU Tigers’ 29-23 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

As the Tigers hung around, it was almost as if they were waiting for that one time the dam would break for the Ole Miss defense. It’s not like Garrett Nussmeir was a world beater in the first half, or even for three quarters, but he kept his team in the game, especially with help from the Tigers defense.

Even Nussmeir throwing two interceptions couldn’t stop Brian Kelly’s side from tying the game. It just took some late drama to finally tie the game. After converting a fourth down, it was up to QB-1, on what could have been the last play for the Tigers, and their chances of keeping their hopes of postseason glory alive.

With a seven-point lead, all Ole Miss had to do was stop the LSU attack one more time on fourth down. But the chances of coming away from Death Valley with the victory diminished when Nussmeir hit Aaron Anderson for the 23-yard touchdown that sent this already chaotic game into overtime.

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 12: Garrett Nussmeier #13 of the LSU Tigers celebrates during the first half of a game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on October 12, 2024 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images)

It was as if all the life was sucked from the Ole Miss sideline as the deafening crowd at Tiger Stadium was sent into complete pandemonium. After everything this game had to offer, with Ole Miss never trailing until the play that ended the game, it was the Rebels who were about to meet their fate.

The season was certainly on the line, and I don’t think that’s too dramatic considering the Rebels were dealt another blow when Kentucky was defeated by Vanderbilt later in the evening. But after settling for a field goal in overtime, LSU needed just one play to send the Rebels back to Oxford with their second loss of the season, and the second weekend of October.

Garrett Nussmeir returned to action, hitting Kyren Lacy for the 25-yard touchdown on the first play of their overtime possession. That was it, the game was over and for the first time all night Ole Miss trailed.

Where do Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin go from here?

The bye week for Ole Miss isn’t going to go well for the folks in Oxford for the next two weeks or the next month. After the break, the Rebels host Oklahoma, go to Arkansas and then return home for a game against Georgia.

Clearly, these are games the Rebels can win, but as they proved Saturday night, they can also lose, not to mention the game against Georgia. At this point, all Ole Miss can do is win and hope for help, but that seems pretty far-fetched at this point if we’re being honest.

Ole Miss is now in the worst possible spot after losing to LSU on Saturday night. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)

We can play the “what if” game for the rest of the season, but until they actually win these games and put themselves in a position to be discussed for a potential playoff spot, it’s all a waste of time.

Oh, and don’t forget, there will be those who will try to further link Lane Kiffin to interest in the Florida job if it opens up.

But right now, on this Sunday morning, Ole Miss is dealing with the fallout from another victory they let pass them by.

From this point on, the Rebels will play a game of hypothetical situations as they try to avoid another loss on their record.

As the second weekend of October comes to a close, Ole Miss finds itself in a spot they have been trying to avoid since the start of the 2024 season. They don’t rely on others, and that’s not the best position to be in.