When it comes to rematches, Kirby Smart doesn’t just prepare - he dominates. And that’s exactly what Ole Miss is up against when they meet Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on January 1 in New Orleans.
The Bulldogs already handled the Rebels once this season, a 43-35 win back in October where Georgia essentially took the steering wheel and never gave it back. They shut down the Ole Miss run game and dictated the tempo, controlling the clock like a team that’s been here before - because they have.
Now, Lane Kiffin’s squad gets another crack at it. But history says that second chances don’t mean much when you’re facing a Kirby Smart-coached team.
Here’s the stat that should make every Georgia fan feel good heading into this one: Smart is 4-0 in rematch games during his tenure in Athens. That’s not a coincidence - it’s a pattern.
A problem-solving pattern. And if you’re on the other sideline, it’s a nightmare.
Just ask Alabama. Two weeks ago, the Crimson Tide walked into the SEC Championship with a regular-season win over Georgia in their back pocket.
It didn’t matter. Georgia flipped the script and handed Alabama a 28-7 loss that felt even more lopsided than the score.
The Tide managed just negative-three rushing yards and went 3-for-13 on third down. That’s what Smart’s second look does - it takes away your strengths and exposes your weaknesses.
Ole Miss, to its credit, has the kind of offense that can light up a scoreboard. They dropped 497 yards and 41 points on Tulane in their season opener, and when they’re clicking, they’re tough to stop. But motivation and firepower only go so far when you’re up against a coach who’s spent eight seasons turning second meetings into statements.
And it’s not just Alabama. Georgia’s done this before.
Go back to 2017. Auburn crushed Georgia 40-17 in the regular season.
It looked like the Tigers had the Bulldogs figured out. Then came the SEC Championship.
Georgia won 28-7. Auburn scored on its first drive - and never again.
D’Andre Swift put the game on ice with a 64-yard touchdown run that’s still playing on highlight reels.
The 2021 national championship? Same story.
Alabama beat Georgia 41-24 in the SEC title game. One month later, Georgia ran through Michigan and lined up for a rematch.
That night, Stetson Bennett hit Brock Bowers for the go-ahead score, and Kelee Ringo sealed it with a 79-yard pick-six. Final score: 33-18.
That win didn’t just avenge a loss - it ended a 41-year title drought.
Even last season followed the script. Georgia beat Texas in Austin, then did it again when they met later in the year.
And this year’s dismantling of Alabama? That’s four straight rematches, four straight wins.
So here we are again. Georgia vs.
Ole Miss, Round Two. The Rebels can study film, tweak their game plan, and bring every ounce of motivation they’ve got.
But if the past is any indicator - and with Smart, it usually is - Georgia’s already a step ahead.
This isn’t just about talent. It’s about adjustments.
It’s about a head coach who’s turned second chances into final nails. And for Ole Miss, that’s the real challenge.
Because when Kirby Smart gets another look at you, the result usually isn’t close.