Sugar Bowl Showdown: Georgia vs. Ole Miss Set for High-Stakes Rematch
For the third time this season, the College Football Playoff is giving us a sequel - and this one’s got all the ingredients for a classic. No.
6 Ole Miss and No. 3 Georgia are set to square off in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal, reigniting a rivalry that delivered fireworks the first time around.
Back in Athens, Ole Miss had Georgia on the ropes through three quarters, playing with poise and pace. But then came the fourth - and Georgia flipped the switch.
Seventeen unanswered points later, the Bulldogs had stormed back to win 43-35, handing the Rebels their only loss of the season. Since then, both teams have rolled through the rest of their schedules unbeaten, but that comeback felt like a turning point for Georgia - a moment where they rediscovered their championship-level edge.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss has had to navigate more than just opponents on the field. The Lane Kiffin-to-LSU saga loomed large over the program for weeks, casting uncertainty over the team’s postseason outlook. But to their credit, the Rebels looked locked in during their first-round matchup with Tulane, dismantling the Green Wave 41-10 in a performance that suggested the off-field drama hasn’t derailed the mission.
Now, it’s all about redemption for Ole Miss - and continuation for Georgia. The Bulldogs have had four weeks to rest and reload.
The big question: will they come out sharp, or will the layoff leave them a bit rusty? On the other side, can Ole Miss avenge their lone blemish and punch a ticket to the semifinals?
Let’s break down the key players and matchups that will define this Sugar Bowl showdown.
Players to Watch: Sugar Bowl Edition
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
Chambliss was electric for three quarters in the first meeting, showing poise and dual-threat ability that gave Georgia fits.
He threw for 263 yards and a touchdown, and added two more scores on the ground. But the fourth quarter was a different story - 1-for-10 passing as Georgia’s defense clamped down.
That late-game stumble became a springboard for Georgia’s defensive resurgence in the back half of the season.
For Ole Miss to pull off the upset, Chambliss will need to be sharp from start to finish. He’s been the engine of this offense since taking over as the starter in Week 3, and his ability to extend plays and create off-script has been a game-changer. This is the biggest stage he’s played on - but if his season-long trajectory is any indication, he’s ready for it.
Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia
Stockton quietly put together one of the most efficient performances of his season in that first matchup with Ole Miss - 26-of-31, 289 yards, four touchdowns. He’s not the flashiest QB in the country, and he may not be on many draft boards, but he’s exactly what Kirby Smart wants under center: steady, smart, and tough.
Georgia’s identity is still rooted in physicality - run the ball, dominate the trenches, and wear teams down. But what’s made this version of the Bulldogs dangerous is Stockton’s ability to elevate when needed.
In big games against Tennessee and Ole Miss, he threw for nearly 600 yards and six touchdowns combined, showing he can push the ball downfield when the game script demands it. If this one turns into another shootout, don’t be surprised if Stockton answers the bell again.
Kewan Lacy, RB, Ole Miss
Lacy was one of the most productive backs in the country this year - over 1,300 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
But against Georgia in the first meeting? Just 12 carries for 31 yards.
That lack of a run game, especially in the fourth quarter (just one rushing attempt over three drives), was a factor in the Rebels’ collapse.
This time around, Ole Miss has to find a way to keep Lacy involved - not just early, but throughout. Georgia’s defensive front has been getting after quarterbacks more aggressively in the second half of the season, so if the Rebels want to keep Chambliss upright and the offense balanced, Lacy needs to be a focal point.
C.J. Allen, LB, Georgia
Allen is the heart of the Bulldogs’ defense - a do-it-all linebacker who leads the team in tackles and tackles for loss, and is second in sacks. He was all over the field in the first matchup with 10 tackles, and he’ll be tasked with containing both Chambliss and Lacy this time around.
Georgia’s defense has looked more like its usual dominant self since that Ole Miss game, and Allen’s been a huge part of that. Expect him to be a tone-setter once again in this rematch.
Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
Branch is Georgia’s home-run hitter - not necessarily on deep balls, but in the short game where he can turn a quick slant or screen into a 60-yard highlight. His explosiveness in space is a nightmare for defenders, and Ole Miss’ secondary is going to have to be sharp in tackling and angles.
If Branch gets loose once or twice, it could swing the momentum fast. Georgia will almost certainly scheme touches for him early to test the Rebels’ tackling discipline.
Wydett Williams Jr., S, Ole Miss
If Ole Miss is going to pull off the upset, they’ll likely need a turnover or two - and Williams is their best bet to make that happen. He leads the team with three interceptions and has a knack for reading quarterbacks and jumping routes.
Georgia doesn’t turn the ball over much, but if the game script pushes them into more passing situations, Williams could have a chance to make a game-changing play. He’s the kind of player who can flip a possession - and possibly the scoreboard - with one read.
Prediction: Georgia’s Physicality Could Be the Difference
Ole Miss has every reason to believe they can score on this Georgia defense - they’ve done it before, and they’ve got the playmakers to do it again. But Georgia has evolved since that first meeting. The Bulldogs are healthier, more cohesive, and playing with the edge of a team that knows what’s at stake.
Don’t expect Stockton to light it up like he did in November - not because he can’t, but because he might not need to. Georgia’s likely to lean into its identity: run the ball, control the tempo, and let the defense do its work. That’s the formula that’s carried them to this point, and it’s one that tends to wear opponents down over four quarters.
Ole Miss might come out hot, especially with a well-scripted opening drive or two. But sustaining that against a Georgia team that’s had time to prep and recover is a different challenge. If the Rebels can’t get Lacy going and protect Chambliss late, it could be déjà vu all over again.
Final thought: Georgia’s depth and defensive adjustments proved to be the difference in Round 1. In Round 2, don’t be surprised if it’s more of the same - just with a little less drama in the fourth quarter.