OXFORD, Miss. — Back in the state of Mississippi for the second time this season, the No. 13 Missouri Tigers couldn’t overcome a sluggish offense at No. 9 Ole Miss on Saturday, suffering their second loss of the year, a 31-3 defeat in front of 67,150 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
After snapping their two-game winning streak in Southeastern Conference play, the Tigers (5-2, 2-2 SEC) now head into a bye week. Before Saturday, Ole Miss (5-1, 3-1) had lost six consecutive games to Mizzou dating back to 1978 and seven of eight in the all-time series.
In Saturday’s matchup of former Rebel quarterback teammates, Mizzou’s Austin Simmons threw for 339 yards on 25-of-44 passing in his return to Oxford, but the Tigers’ offense couldn’t capitalize on two first-half trips inside the Ole Miss 10-yard line. Rebels counterpart Trinidad Chambliss threw three first-half touchdowns, putting the Tigers in a 21-3 hole at halftime.
Wide receiver Donovan Olugbode was a bright spot for the Tigers, bouncing back from a quiet performance against Texas A&M to catch a career-best nine passes for 127 yards. Tight end Jude James also enjoyed a career-best day with five catches for 57 yards. Cayden Lee, in his return to Ole Miss after playing there from 2023-25, caught five passes for 62 yards.
Trailing by three scores early in the third quarter, Mizzou captured momentum briefly, recording the game’s first takeaway on Santana Banner’s strip and recovery of running back Kewan Lacy’s fumble. But the Tigers couldn’t convert the turnover into points.
Nicholas Rodriguez was Mizzou’s top defensive playmaker, finishing with 13 tackles and a forced fumble to mark his sixth-straight game logging double-digit stops.
Needing a spark in the passing game, Lee ignited Mizzou’s offense midway through the second quarter with a 43-yard catch and run on a third-down snag from Simmons, setting up a red-zone scoring chance. But Blake Craig’s field goal attempt missed wide left.
Craig got the Tigers on the board first with a 27-yard field goal on the Tigers’ lengthy opening possession that saw Simmons complete 5 of 6 passes for 61 yards following Ole Miss’ game-opening punt.
UP NEXT
The Tigers have a bye next week before they travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas for a Halloween matchup in the Battle Line Rivalry against the Arkansas Razorbacks. Game time at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will be 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CT, with television coverage to be announced.
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