The game ended as it began — with not a lot of defense, and a Jeremiah Masoli interception. LSU and Ole Miss traded touchdowns for basically the entirety of a wild 32-point fourth quarter, but LSU got the last word with a 7-yard Stevan Ridley touchdown run with less than a minute remaining. A pair of failed Hail Mary attempts by the Rebels’ Masoli, the second of which ended up in the hands of LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson, sealed the win for the Tigers.
Peterson was the star of the game with numerous clutch defensive plays, as well as five kickoff returns that totaled 121 yards. But give some credit to LSU’s much-maligned Jordan Jefferson, too, who completed 13 of 17 passes for a season-high 254 yards (nearly as many yards as his last four games combined), a TD and a pick and also rushed nine times for 45 yards and another score.
With the loss, Ole Miss is eliminated from bowl contention for the first time in Houston Nutt’s tenure, something that’s sure to go over swell with Rebel fans. LSU, meanwhile, will likely retain a top-six BCS ranking and can make an at-large BCS bid all but official with a win at 13th-ranked Arkansas next week.
For postgame analysis, point your browsers toward SBN’s And the Valley Shook and Red Cup Rebellion.