Top-ranked LSU defeated sixth-ranked, rival Ole Miss, 14–0 in a game dominated by defense and penalties. 68,000 fans packed Tiger Stadium to watch the Tigers win their first game against the Rebels since 1950. Ole Miss was LSU's most bitter rival at the time, and fans who heard and read about the Chinese Bandits and Billy Cannon wanted to see them first-hand. "It's not a rivalry because somebody says it is", said Cannon, "or because you've been playing against a team for a long time. It's a rivalry when two good teams meet and either one could walk out the winner. This was a rivalry." Banners were strung around the LSU campus with the words "Go to Hell, Ole Miss." Later, a plane dropped leaflets on campus that read "Go to Hell, LSU." Some thought Dietzel was responsible, hoping to fire up his team for the game, but he denied responsibility.