Georgia Eyes Redemption and a Title Run as Sugar Bowl Clash with Ole Miss Looms
NEW ORLEANS - Back in March, Kirby Smart didn’t have a crystal ball. What he did have was a feel for what this Georgia team needed to become. And as the Bulldogs prepare for their College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl quarterfinal matchup against Ole Miss, it’s clear that vision has taken root.
“We just knew it was what the team needed,” Smart said Tuesday during media day at the Sheraton in New Orleans. “The best version of this team was only going to get there with fire, passion and energy, an ability to run the ball, and an ability to stop the run.”
Fast forward to now, and Georgia has checked those boxes in a big way. That identity - physical, focused, and fueled by urgency - helped the Bulldogs power through the SEC to a conference title and a return to the playoff stage. Now, they’re one win away from the CFP semifinals, with a familiar opponent standing in the way.
Ole Miss, Round Two
Thursday night’s matchup in the Superdome is a rematch of Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss back in October. But don’t expect Smart or his staff to lean too heavily on that result.
This Ole Miss squad is coming in hot, fresh off a dominant 41-10 win over Tulane in the CFP opening round. At 12-1, the Rebels bring the second-ranked offense in the country - averaging a staggering 498 yards per game - and a tempo that can leave defenses gasping for air.
Smart’s message to his team? Be ready - physically and mentally.
“Being in shape is one,” Smart said, acknowledging the challenge of matching Ole Miss’ pace after a three-week layoff. “(And) being focused, and understanding this is a business trip and you’re here for a purpose.”
That purpose is crystal clear inside Georgia’s locker room. Last year’s playoff loss to Notre Dame - a 23-10 defeat in this very stadium - still lingers. And if you ask the players, it’s fueling something deeper this time around.
Linebacker Raylen Wilson put it bluntly: “We’ve got a chip on the shoulder.”
Learning from the Past
This is Georgia’s third straight trip to the CFP, but unlike the other seven teams still standing, they didn’t have to play an opening-round game. That bye week can be a blessing or a curse - and Smart knows it.
He’s been intentional about how the Bulldogs handled the downtime, especially after last year’s early exit.
“You address the advantages or things you will lean on that you feel like are an advantage for you, and we try to list those things out,” Smart said. “Here’s the things we’re strong at, and we’re going to lean on these things - these are our core identity.”
And that identity has started to show up more consistently on both sides of the ball.
Offensive Rhythm, Defensive Resolve
Offensively, Georgia has found its groove behind quarterback Gunner Stockton. The young signal-caller has settled in, showing poise in the pocket and the ability to extend plays when things break down. He’s been efficient, smart with the football, and dynamic when needed - all under the guidance of offensive coordinator Mike Bobo.
Smart didn’t hold back when talking about Bobo’s impact.
“I don’t think he’s the right guy, I know he’s the right guy,” Smart said. “I’ll put him up against anybody in the country because of his knowledge, his experience, what he’s done and the staff he has.”
That kind of confidence isn’t just coach-speak. It’s a reflection of how Georgia’s offense has evolved - not flashy, but effective, balanced, and built to win in December and January.
Defensively, the Bulldogs have reasserted themselves as a physical, disciplined unit. They’ve been better against the run this year, which will be critical against an Ole Miss team that thrives on spreading defenses out and hitting them with quick-hitters and chunk plays.
Bigger Than a Trophy
For Smart, the goal is always a national title - but it’s also about something more intangible: maximizing the potential of the group in front of him.
“My goal every year, I learned this a long time ago from Coach (Bobby) Bowden and even my dad (Sonny Smart), is like: Did you get the most out of that team?” Smart said. “I think there’s some coaches that get the most out of their team and they don’t win the national championship, and that’s a hell of a year.”
That perspective doesn’t soften Georgia’s ambition. If anything, it sharpens it. Because this team - forged through fire, passion, and a little bit of unfinished business - believes it still has more to give.
And on Thursday night in New Orleans, they’ll get their chance to prove it.