Heading into the Sugar Bowl, Georgia might be the favorite on paper-but don’t let the rankings fool you. This matchup against Ole Miss has all the makings of a potential trap game, and Kirby Smart knows better than to overlook a team that’s more dangerous than it may appear.
Yes, Georgia is still viewed by many as the team to beat in the national championship race. Their roster is stacked, their defense is elite, and their culture of winning under Smart is well-established. But if there’s one thing college football teaches us every postseason, it’s that no win is guaranteed-especially not against a team like Ole Miss, which has shown it can hang with the big boys.
The last time these two teams met, Ole Miss didn’t just show up-they pushed Georgia to the brink. That game was under Lane Kiffin’s leadership, but this year, the Rebels are coming into the Sugar Bowl with Pete Golding at the helm.
And here’s where things get really interesting: Golding isn’t just the head coach-he’s also running the defense. That dual role could be a game-changer.
Analyst Tom Vanderford put it plainly: “Our head coach is our defensive coordinator now… he’s going to run the defense. He knows what’ll work.”
That’s not just coach-speak-it’s a signal that Ole Miss plans to be aggressive, disciplined, and disruptive on that side of the ball. Vanderford even emphasized that fans shouldn’t expect soft, conservative schemes like a “rush three, drop eight” approach.
Translation: Ole Miss is coming after Georgia.
And that brings us to Gunner Stockton.
If Georgia is going to take care of business in this game, Stockton has to be ready-mentally and physically. We saw what happened last postseason when Notre Dame dialed up the pressure and got after him.
That game ended Georgia’s title hopes, and it wasn’t because they lacked talent. It was because Stockton never got comfortable, and the offense couldn’t adjust.
Pete Golding is smart enough to study that film and take notes. If Ole Miss can replicate that kind of pressure-disrupting Stockton’s timing, collapsing the pocket, and forcing quick decisions-then Georgia could be in for a much tougher night than most expect.
That’s why the Bulldogs’ game plan has to start with protection. The offensive line needs to win the battle up front, and the run game has to be more than just a change of pace-it has to be a weapon. If Georgia can establish the ground game early, they’ll force Ole Miss to respect the run, which will open up options for Stockton to operate in rhythm.
But make no mistake-this isn’t just about X’s and O’s. This is a chess match between two sharp defensive minds: Kirby Smart and Pete Golding.
Both know how to scheme, disguise coverages, and adjust on the fly. The Sugar Bowl could come down to which coach blinks first-or which quarterback handles the pressure better.
So while the odds may favor Georgia, this isn’t a walkover. It’s a test. And if the Bulldogs want to keep their championship dreams alive, they’ll need to pass it with poise, precision, and a whole lot of grit.