Matching the historic Mississippi football fever of 2014 will be a high bar to clear, but thanks to their star quarterbacks, Ole Miss and Mississippi State are collectively approaching a level of combined level of euphoria rarely seen in the Magnolia State. After leading the Rebels to a win over LSU and former coach Lane Kiffin in a top-10 showdown, Trinidad Chambliss is now No. 1 in the CBS Sports Quarterback Power Rankings. Not far behind him is Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor, who turned in another gem as the Bulldogs rallied from a 16-0 deficit to dominate South Carolina on the road.
Taylor is up to No. 4 this week, giving the top of the QBPR a distinct Mississippi vibe. The 2014 season saw Mississippi State rise to No. 1 in the AP poll for the only time in program history behind the play of star quarterback Dan Prescott. At the same time, Ole Miss climbed to No. 3.
As Week 4 approaches 12 years later, the Rebels are No. 4 and Mississippi State is No. 24. While the grind of a 9-game SEC slate is just ramping up for both, optimism is running high because of their star quarterbacks. A repeat of the 2014 Mississippi football eclipse may never come.
But entering Week 4 of the 2026 season, there are distinct whiffs of that unique moment in the state's football history. Chambliss ran 14 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:14 remaining in Ole Miss' 32-24 Week 3 win over LSU and former coach Lane Kiffin. The score capped another legendary performance for the most clutch player in college football.
In two tight wins against ranked opponents, Chambliss has totaled four touchdowns in each. It's a continuation of what he did during a breakout 2025 season. Last week: 2 Mensah set two ACC records for consecutive completions when he started 24 for 24 in Miami's 33-20 win at Wake Forest on Friday.
However, he was ineffective in the second half as the Hurricanes hit a wall offensively for the first time this season. This rankings swap isn't necessarily about Mensah doing anything wrong. It's about Chambliss being awesome.
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