Kirby Smart has built a reputation for a lot of things during his tenure at Georgia - elite recruiting, defensive dominance, and a knack for winning big games. But one stat that stands out as the Bulldogs prepare for the 2026 Sugar Bowl?
He’s undefeated in rematches. Four times he’s faced a team for the second time in a season.
Four times he’s come out on top.
That streak will be tested on January 1 when No. 3 Georgia meets No.
6 Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals - a rematch of their October 18 showdown, when the Bulldogs outpaced the Rebels 43-35 in a high-scoring affair. But if you think Georgia’s banking on a repeat just because they won the first one, think again.
“You evolve as a team, you have trends, but good teams do what they do,” Smart said earlier this month. “There’s not going to be a lot of change if both these teams are good teams.”
Translation: don’t expect either side to reinvent the wheel - but also don’t assume what worked in October will work in January.
Smart’s first taste of a rematch came back in 2017, and it was a turning point for the program. Georgia started that season 9-0 before getting steamrolled by Auburn in a 40-17 loss that raised real questions about the Bulldogs’ ceiling.
But Georgia didn’t flinch. After rebounding with wins over Kentucky and Georgia Tech, they got another shot at the Tigers in the SEC Championship.
This time, the Bulldogs flipped the script. Auburn scored early, but Georgia’s defense locked in, and D’Andre Swift’s 64-yard touchdown run put an exclamation point on a 28-7 win.
That was Smart’s first SEC title - and his first rematch win.
Fast forward to 2021, and the stakes were even higher. Georgia had been perfect all season until Alabama handed them a humbling 41-24 loss in the SEC title game.
For some teams, that kind of loss derails everything. Not Georgia.
They rolled past Michigan in the CFP semifinals and set up a national championship rematch with the Crimson Tide. The game was tight throughout, but Stetson Bennett connected with Brock Bowers for a crucial touchdown, and Kelee Ringo’s 79-yard pick-six sealed a 33-18 win - and Georgia’s first national title in 41 years.
That win didn’t just avenge a loss. It announced Georgia as college football’s new heavyweight.
Then came 2023, and another double-dip - this time against Texas. Georgia controlled the first meeting in Austin, winning 30-15.
But the SEC Championship was a different story. Quarterback Carson Beck went down with an elbow injury, and the game turned into a slugfest.
It took overtime, but Trevor Etienne punched in a 4-yard touchdown to secure a 22-19 win and Smart’s third SEC crown.
Most recently, Georgia got another shot at Alabama - and made the most of it. The Crimson Tide handed the Bulldogs their only loss of the 2025 regular season, a 24-21 defeat that ended Georgia’s 33-game home win streak.
That kind of loss can linger. Instead, Georgia rattled off eight straight wins and set up yet another rematch with Alabama.
This time, the Bulldogs dominated. They held Bama to negative-3 rushing yards and just 3-of-13 on third down in a 28-7 statement win.
Now, it’s Ole Miss again. And while Georgia won the first meeting, the Rebels aren’t limping into the Sugar Bowl.
They just dropped 497 yards of offense and forced three turnovers in a 41-10 win over Tulane. Lane Kiffin’s squad is dangerous, explosive, and plenty motivated.
There’s an old saying in football: it’s hard to beat a good team twice. Georgia knows that. But if history is any indication, Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs are built for the second round.