Chambliss targets statement vs. ex-coach Kiffin's LSU — SkimNews
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- Chambliss transferred from Division II Ferris State to Ole Miss as a backup quarterback, won the starting job, and led the Rebels to their first College Football Playoff appearance and a 13-win season.
- In that 2025 campaign, Chambliss led the SEC with 3,937 passing yards and 22 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions, engineered three game-winning drives, and finished only eighth in Heisman voting on 14 ballots.
- Chambliss's coming-out party was last season's upset of then-No. 4 LSU (314 passing yards, 71 rushing), and his College Football Playoff dismantling of No. 3 Georgia — 362 yards, two touchdowns, and the 40-yard pass to De'Zhaun Stribling that set up a game-winning field goal — drew "Russell Wilson type vibes" from former Titans GM Ran Carthon.
- Kiffin has dominated the offseason media cycle surrounding both programs: when Vanity Fair visited Ole Miss and LSU this offseason, the magazine profiled the coach rather than Chambliss, illustrating the spotlight dynamic the quarterback has had to fight.
- Kiffin, now LSU's head coach, tried to entice Chambliss to Baton Rouge, but the quarterback stayed at Ole Miss to team with star running back Kewan Lacy.
- Saturday's #8 vs. #7 showdown pits Chambliss against an LSU defense allowing just 124.0 passing yards per game (12th nationally), anchored by his ex-teammate Princewill Umanmielen, who leads the country with 6.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks.
Why it matters: Despite leading the SEC in passing (3,937 yards) and orchestrating Ole Miss's first College Football Playoff run, Chambliss finished only eighth in Heisman voting on 14 ballots while Kiffin drew the bulk of national coverage. Saturday's #8 vs. #7 showdown is his clearest stage to flip that narrative against a Tigers defense allowing just 124.0 passing yards per game.
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