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Ranked LSU, Mississippi State Set for SEC Clash

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Ranked LSU, Mississippi State Set for SEC Clash

42 sourcesUpdated Oct 17, 20261 min read

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Ranked LSU, Mississippi State Set for SEC Clash — Photo: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

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No. 22 LSU will host No. 16 Mississippi State after a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky left the Tigers with little margin for error in their postseason hopes. Kentucky exposed weaknesses in LSU’s defense, keeping the Tigers off schedule, gaining yards on the ground and making big plays late; LSU also failed to force a turnover or generate consistent pressure. Mississippi State, which sits ahead of LSU in the SEC standings, is looking to rebound from a lopsided loss to Alabama and keep its playoff hopes alive. Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor and running back Fluff Bothwell are nursing injuries, and coach Jeff Lebby has offered no firm assurance about their availability. The matchup also reunites LSU coach Lane Kiffin with his former offensive coordinator, now Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby.

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2026 college football season results and rankingsstory 61 of 65 · since Oct 4, 2026

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LSU Faces Mississippi State Amid Kiffin Scrutiny

Lane Kiffin’s decision to punt on fourth-and-short late in LSU’s loss to Kentucky drew criticism, though the defense’s recent stops, LSU’s short-yardage struggles and kicking concerns offered reasons for caution. The overtime defeat intensified doubts about LSU’s season, and the Tigers now need to regroup against Mississippi State to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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