Ole Miss Rebels fall in latest AP poll after heartbreaking loss to LSU Tigers

Ole Miss needs a clear win if it wants to make the College Football Playoff in 2024, but the Rebels have more on their minds in Week 8.

The Rebels fell nine spots to No. 18 in the latest edition of the AP Poll after losing 29-26 to LSU on Saturday night at Tiger Stadium. Ole Miss now moves to 1-2 in conference play after losing its Week 5 matchup to Kentucky in Oxford.

Thanks to their win over Lane Kiffin's Rebels, the Tigers move into the top 10 after coming from behind to force the game into overtime on a fourth-and-4 touchdown pass from Garrett Nussmeier to Aaron Anderson. After a 57-yard field goal by Caden Davis, Nussmeier connected with Kyren Lacy for the game-winning touchdown pass.

Ole Miss controlled the game until the final minutes. The Rebels defeated the Tigers 464-421, and Jaxson Dart completed 57 percent of his passes for 284 yards and threw a touchdown pass to Tre Harris, giving the Rebels a two-point lead in the second quarter.

Cayden Lee filled in for Harris after the senior left in the fourth quarter. The second-year senior finished the game with nine catches and 132 yards. Running Ulysses Bentley, who had missed the last two games in conference play, finally saw action with 11 carries for 107 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown.

“Just really disappointed, of course. We should have won that game,” Rebels coach Lane Kiffin said. “We had control of the game for long stretches.”

Ole Miss enters a much-needed bye week, but the battle ahead is fierce. When they return, the Rebels will face Oklahoma on Oct. 26 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

The Rebels need to win to secure a 10-win season and hope for a possible playoff spot. Four SEC teams are currently ranked in the AP Top 10, including top-ranked Texas after a 34-3 win over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.

Tennessee, which survived an overtime scare against Florida, appeared at No. 11. Texas A&M, which was in its bye week, moved up to No. 14 entering its match against Mississippi State.