LSU never quit.

Not last week against Florida.

Not Saturday against Ole Miss.

Once again, the Tigers rallied for an improbable victory.

This time, Max Johnson hit Kayshon Boutte on a crossing route. Boutte spun and raced 45 yards into the end zone for the winning TD in a dramatic 53-48 victory Saturday.

Boutte finished with 14 catches for 308 yards and 3 TDs.

Johnson threw for 435 yards and 3 TDs.

Matt Corral threw 5 interceptions and Johnson threw 1. But Corral and Ole Miss overcame his turnovers to help the Rebels take a late lead before LSU again unleashed its bag of magic.

Trailing 48-40, Johnson scored a late TD, but the Tigers couldn’t convert the 2-point conversion to tie it.

LSU quickly forced a 3-and-out and took over at their 44-yard line with about 3 minutes left. That’s all they needed to erase the 48-46 deficit.

Boutte’s TD will be the Tigers’ final highlight of 2020.

LSU has self-imposed a postseason ban in hopes of mitigating anticipated NCAA penalties.

Defense helped. Jay Ward had 2 of the Corral’s interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.

Still, Ole Miss’ offense kept humming even after learning late in the week that Elijah Moore, who led the country in pass receptions and was 2nd in receiving yards, and second-leading receiver, tight end, Kenny Yeboah, had left the team to concentrate on the NFL Draft.

LSU led 34-23 at halftime and Corral threw his 5th interception and Ward grabbed his second on the first possession of the 3rd quarter.

The Tigers drove to Cade York’s 23-yard field goal for a 37-23 lead.

Corral drove the Rebels to Henry Parrish Jr.’s 10-yard touchdown run and a failed 2-point conversion left LSU with a 37-27 lead.

Ole Miss responded with a 21-3 run to briefly take command.

First, on Ole Miss’ next possession, Corral threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Dontaio Drummond to close the deficit to 37-34.

York kicked a 50-yard field goal before Corral threw a 25-yard touchdown to Braylon Sanders to give the Rebels a 41-40 lead at the outset of the 4th quarter.

The Tigers marched to the Ole Miss 10, but Kedron Smith intercepted Johnson in the end zone for the first interception of the freshman quarterback’s career.

Corral ran 2 yards for a touchdown on fourth down to give the Rebels a 48-40 lead with 8:43 left.

Johnson then drove the Tigers 75 yards on 10 plays, scoring on a 1-yard rush to pull within 48-46 with 5:31 left to give the Tigers a chance at yet another improbable comeback victory.