Rebels Top Bulldogs 39-34 in Sugar Bowl Classic Battle/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Ole Miss beat Georgia 39-34 in a back-and-forth Sugar Bowl thriller. QB Trinidad Chambliss and kicker Lucas Carneiro delivered clutch performances. Now 2-0 under interim coach Pete Golding, the Rebels advance to the CFP semifinals.
Ole Miss Sugar Bowl Stunner: Quick Looks
- No. 6 Ole Miss defeats No. 3 Georgia 39-34 in CFP quarterfinal
- QB Trinidad Chambliss throws for 362 yards and 2 touchdowns
- Kicker Lucas Carneiro nails 47-yard game-winner with 6 seconds left
- Carneiro also sets Sugar Bowl records with 55- and 56-yard field goals
- Interim head coach Pete Golding improves to 2-0 after Lane Kiffin’s exit
- Rebels now face 10-seed Miami in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal
- Georgia eliminated despite late rally and trick plays
- Ole Miss outgains Georgia 473-343 behind strong offensive effort
- Stribling, Wallace, and Lacy deliver key plays for Rebels
- Georgia suffers second straight Sugar Bowl loss following CFP bye
Deep Look: Rebels Top Bulldogs 39-34 in Sugar Bowl Classic Battle
NEW ORLEANS — In a Sugar Bowl showdown that lived up to the stakes, Ole Miss delivered a statement win without former head coach Lane Kiffin, edging No. 3 Georgia 39-34 in a dramatic College Football Playoff quarterfinal.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss led the charge, passing for 362 yards and two touchdowns, while kicker Lucas Carneiro nailed a 47-yard game-winning field goal with just six seconds remaining, securing a signature victory for the sixth-seeded Rebels (13-1).
“We just want to play ball and have fun, and I think that’s showing right now,” said Chambliss, who silenced doubters after Kiffin’s November departure to LSU left the Rebels under the leadership of interim head coach Pete Golding.
Ole Miss now advances to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal, where they’ll face No. 10 Miami, a team riding back-to-back playoff upsets.
A True CFP Battle
Unlike earlier quarterfinal blowouts, this all-SEC clash at the Superdome delivered high drama from start to finish. Georgia (12-2) overcame a 21-12 halftime deficit to take a 34-24 lead midway through the fourth, but Ole Miss stormed back behind Chambliss and Carneiro.
Carneiro, already having hit Sugar Bowl record field goals of 55 and 56 yards earlier in the game, sprinted toward his teammates after nailing the decisive 47-yarder — and was swarmed in celebration.
“I’m sick that we lost,” said Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who praised the competitiveness of the game but lamented late-game execution. “There’s things I’d love to go back and do differently.”
The game’s wild ending included a rare safety: on the final kickoff, Georgia attempted a lateral that hit the pylon, giving Ole Miss two more points and sealing the win.
Clutch Plays and Key Contributors
Chambliss’ poise under pressure defined the night. His 40-yard third-down strike to De’Zhaun Stribling with under a minute left set up the winning kick. Earlier, he extended scoring drives with creative scrambling and pinpoint accuracy — drawing praise from both coaches.
“He’s just incredible,” said Smart. “Doesn’t take sacks, makes plays with his legs. You can’t teach that.”
Chambliss had help. Harrison Wallace III caught 9 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown, Stribling added 122 yards on 7 catches, and Kewan Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two scores.
Meanwhile, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton kept the Bulldogs in it, throwing for 203 yards and a touchdown, and running for two more. He showed grit, completing passes under heavy pressure, including a fourth-down strike to Zachariah Branch to tie the game late.
But Georgia’s fake punt and trick plays weren’t enough. A failed fourth-down gamble deep in their own territory allowed Chambliss to find Wallace for a back-shoulder TD, giving Ole Miss a 10-point cushion with just over 9 minutes left.
No Kiffin, No Problem
Kiffin, who left for LSU on Nov. 30 after a successful 11-1 regular season, was not permitted by Ole Miss administration to coach through the playoff. But Golding, previously defensive coordinator, has filled the role seamlessly — guiding the Rebels to two playoff wins, including this high-stakes victory near his Louisiana hometown.
“We’ve got a lot of good coaches,” Golding said, noting that some assistants set to join Kiffin at LSU have remained for the postseason.
“They’ve been here for the kids the whole time. And this is a special group of kids,” he added. “They don’t panic. They just want to get coached and get better.”
Georgia’s Repeat Collapse
For Georgia, this marks the second straight season losing in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal after earning a first-round bye. In 2025, they were eliminated by Notre Dame. The format, expanded to 12 teams last year, hasn’t been kind to top-seeded teams after the extra layoff.
The Bulldogs pulled out all the stops, including a fake punt and a reverse pass to keep drives alive. But turnovers, breakdowns, and an inability to stop Chambliss in the clutch proved costly.
“We competed, and I’m proud of our guys,” Smart said. “But this one hurts.”
The Takeaways
Ole Miss: The Rebels are proving resilient in the post-Kiffin era. With Golding 2-0 as interim head coach and Carneiro emerging as a special teams weapon, they look like legitimate contenders for a national title.
Georgia: Despite talent and pedigree, the Bulldogs again failed to capitalize on their high seeding. Questions about postseason preparation and clock management may linger heading into 2026.
Up Next
Ole Miss: Faces No. 10 Miami in the CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl.
Georgia: Opens the 2026 season at home vs. Tennessee State on Sept. 5.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.