On January 1, 2026, No. 6 Ole Miss defeated No. 3 Georgia 39 to 34 in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl inside Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, advancing to the CFP semifinals. The Rebels improved to 13 and 1 and earned a berth in the Fiesta Bowl, where they will face No. 10 Miami.
Ole Miss, led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and a historic performance from its kicking unit, overcame a halftime deficit to deliver one of the most dramatic bowl victories of the season. The game was broadcast nationally on ESPN and played before a crowd of 68,371 fans, with momentum swinging repeatedly in a contest that featured clutch plays, long field goals and an unusual final sequence.
The Rebels struck first in the opening quarter when Lucas Carneiro connected on a career long 55 yard field goal. He added another from 56 yards later in the first half, extending Ole Miss’s lead to 12 to 0 and setting Sugar Bowl records in the process. Georgia responded with sustained offensive drives, using a combination of quarterback Gunner Stockton’s arm and a strong rushing attack to build a 21 to 12 halftime advantage.
Ole Miss began its comeback in the second half, trimming the deficit with a touchdown drive highlighted by Chambliss’s precision passing. Georgia briefly maintained control with a field goal, but the Rebels continued to apply pressure, tying the game and eventually taking the lead in the fourth quarter. Georgia answered once more, knotting the score at 34 with a late field goal and appearing poised to force overtime.
Instead, Ole Miss mounted one final drive in the closing seconds. Chambliss guided the Rebels into field goal range, and with six seconds remaining, Carneiro calmly drilled a 47 yard kick to put Ole Miss ahead. On the ensuing kickoff, Georgia attempted a desperation lateral play that resulted in the ball striking the end zone pylon, ruling the play dead for a safety and sealing the final score at 39 to 34.
Chambliss finished the night completing 28 of 39 passes for 362 yards and two touchdowns, earning Most Outstanding Player honors. Kewan Lacy contributed both on the ground and through the air, while Ole Miss receivers consistently won key matchups in the second half. Carneiro’s three field goals from 55, 56 and 47 yards proved decisive and etched his name into Sugar Bowl history.
For Georgia, Stockton threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns, while the Bulldogs’ offense produced enough scoring chances to contend throughout the game. Ultimately, turnovers and special teams miscues proved costly in the closing moments.
The victory avenged Ole Miss’s regular season loss to Georgia and sends the Rebels to the Fiesta Bowl on January 8 with a chance to advance to the national championship game. The Sugar Bowl, one of college football’s most storied postseason games, once again delivered a memorable New Year’s Day showdown defined by resilience, execution and a dramatic finish.
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