New Orleans, LA. – The No. 3-ranked Georgia football team’s season concluded on Thursday night with a 39-34 loss to No. 6 Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Caesars Superdome.
In a competitive Sugar Bowl matchup, Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro made a 47-yard field goal with six seconds remaining to break a 34-34 tie. Following this, Georgia attempted a backwards pass on the ensuing kickoff, which went out of bounds off an end zone pylon, resulting in a safety. The Bulldogs, SEC champions for the second consecutive year, finished their season with a 12-2 record.
“They had momentum a lot. It was a back-and-forth game. It was an incredible college football game. It’s what the CFP was built for, to have battles like that,” Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart said. “And that was basically every conference game we had this year. I felt like every game was like that one: back, forth, back, forth. Plays being made all over.”
Georgia led 21-12 at halftime, but Ole Miss was able to rally and take a 34-24 lead in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs responded with 10 consecutive points to tie the game but fell short in the final moments.
Earlier this season, on October 18 at Sanford Stadium, Georgia, which did not punt during that game, scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to secure a 43-35 victory. On Thursday, Ole Miss outscored Georgia 20-10 in the final period.
Ole Miss took the initial lead with a 55-yard field goal by Carneiro, the longest of his career, with 5:47 remaining in the first quarter. On their next drive, Carneiro extended the lead with a 56-yard field goal, making it 6-0 with 2:13 left in the first quarter.
Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young, who had been injured with a broken leg since the first Ole Miss game, returned for the Sugar Bowl and caught a 13-yard pass from quarterback Gunner Stockton early in the drive. The Bulldogs advanced into Ole Miss territory and took the lead on a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Stockton, putting Georgia up 7-6 with 13:37 remaining in the half.
Ole Miss responded with their first touchdown, a 3-yard pass from quarterback Trinidad Chambliss to Luke Hasz, giving them a 12-7 lead with 10:33 left in the second quarter. The Rebels attempted a two-point conversion but were stopped by Georgia’s defense.
“A lot of people did doubt us before the season and they still doubted us when our coach left,” Chambliss said. “We just want to play ball and have fun, and I think that’s showing right now.”
Georgia executed a strong drive afterward, converting multiple third downs, including a third-and-13 and a third-and-12. Stockton connected with Zachariah Branch for a 15-yard gain and then scrambled for 26 yards to the Ole Miss 1-yard line, before rushing in for a touchdown to give Georgia a 14-12 lead with 4:05 remaining in the first half.
Georgia’s defense then forced a turnover—an interception caused by Elijah Griffin stripping a ball from Kewan Lacy, which was returned 47 yards for a touchdown by Daylen Everette—expanding Georgia’s lead to 21-12 with 2:34 left in the second quarter.
After halftime, Georgia’s offense went three-and-out. The defense then stopped Ole Miss on fourth-and-1 at the Rebels’ 49-yard line, giving Georgia good field position, but the field goal attempt from Peyton Woodring fell just short from 55 yards.
Ole Miss closed the gap to 21-19 with a 7-yard touchdown run by Lacy, followed by a successful two-point conversion with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter. The Rebels capitalized on a fourth-and-3 conversion with a 36-yard pass, leading to a touchdown two plays later.
Later in the third quarter, Georgia executed a fake punt, with backup wide receiver Landon Roldan throwing a 16-yard pass to tight end Lawson Luckie to keep a drive alive. Stockton then connected with Young for a 36-yard reception, but the drive stalled, and Georgia settled for a 37-yard field goal by Woodring, increasing the lead to 24-19 with 30 seconds remaining in the third.
In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss took the lead at 27-24 with a 5-yard touchdown run by Lacy and a two-point conversion. They extended their advantage to 34-24 with a 13-yard pass from Chambliss to Harrison Wallace III with 9:02 remaining.
Georgia responded with a drive that culminated in an 18-yard touchdown reception from Stockton to Branch, cutting the deficit to 34-31 with 7:03 left. Following a quick defensive stop, Georgia advanced into Ole Miss territory, with a key 16-yard reception by Branch on fourth-and-9 keeping the drive alive. The Bulldogs ultimately tied the game at 34-34 with a 24-yard field goal by Woodring with 55 seconds remaining.
Ole Miss managed to move into field-goal range and secured the victory with Carneiro’s 47-yard kick. The Rebels outgained Georgia 473 yards to 344. Stockton finished with 204 passing yards, one touchdown, and two rushing scores. Defensive back KJ Bolden led the Georgia defense with 10 tackles.
Photos/OleMissFootball/X
