Gunner Stockton Already Torched Ole Miss Once - Can He Do It Again in the Sugar Bowl?
When Georgia and Ole Miss clashed earlier this season, Gunner Stockton didn’t just show up - he took over. In what was arguably his breakout performance of the year, the Georgia quarterback put on a clinic in Athens, completing 26-of-31 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns, with zero interceptions. He added another 59 yards and a score on the ground, leading the Bulldogs to a 43-35 win in a high-octane SEC shootout.
Now, with the stakes even higher, Stockton and the Bulldogs are set for a rematch with the Rebels - this time in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, with a spot in the College Football Playoff on the line.
The storylines are rich. Ole Miss enters with just one loss, but Georgia comes in with something arguably more valuable: experience, coaching, and a quarterback who already carved up this defense once before.
The Rebels are still led defensively by Pete Golding - the same coordinator whose unit couldn’t slow down Stockton in October. Now, he’s the acting head coach, tasked with solving a puzzle he couldn’t crack the first time.
Georgia Has the Edge - And the Motivation
There’s a lot working in Georgia’s favor heading into this one. For starters, the Bulldogs had extra time to prepare thanks to a bye, while Ole Miss had to handle business in the first round of the playoff. That time off matters - especially for a team that’s been banged up at points this season.
Then there’s the coaching edge. Georgia has one of the most respected and successful head coaches in the country, and that leadership has been evident all season long. Despite injuries and adversity, the Bulldogs have remained one of the most disciplined, well-prepared teams in the nation.
And let’s not forget the emotional layer here. The Sugar Bowl is where Georgia’s season ended last year - and it was also Stockton’s first career start in a Georgia uniform. That experience, combined with what he did against this same Ole Miss defense earlier in the year, gives the Bulldogs a serious mental advantage.
Stockton vs. The Rush - Round Two
One of the biggest reasons for Stockton’s success in the first meeting? Protection.
Georgia’s offensive line gave him a clean pocket all night, and he made Ole Miss pay. That unit has only improved since then, and Stockton has grown more comfortable, more confident, and more dangerous with each passing week.
Ole Miss, for all their offensive firepower, still leans heavily in that direction. This is a team built to score, not necessarily to stop teams from scoring. That DNA traces back to Lane Kiffin’s time at the helm, and while Golding has tried to toughen up the defense, the results have been mixed - especially against elite competition.
Georgia’s Defense Is Peaking at the Right Time
Don’t overlook what Glenn Schumann’s defense has done since that wild October game. The Bulldogs haven’t allowed more than 21 points in a game since then, locking down opponents with a mix of physicality and smart, disciplined play. This is a unit that’s been tested, sure - but it’s also one that’s responded every time.
That’s going to matter against an Ole Miss offense that thrives on rhythm and tempo. If Georgia can disrupt that - and if Stockton can continue his red-zone efficiency - the Bulldogs are in a strong position to control this game.
Ole Miss Can Score, But Can They Finish?
Ole Miss had no trouble moving the ball in their first-round win over Tulane, but context matters. That game was in Oxford, and Tulane’s head coach Jon Sumrall was already on his way to Florida.
Even so, Tulane’s Jake Retzlaff managed to move the ball between the 20s - he just couldn’t finish drives. That’s where Stockton shines.
He’s been lethal in the red zone, and that could be the difference.
Vegas has Georgia favored by 6.5 points on a neutral field, and that feels about right. The Bulldogs have the better coach, the more complete roster, and a quarterback who’s already proven he can handle the moment.
If Georgia takes care of the football - and there's no reason to think they won’t - they’re in the driver’s seat to punch a ticket to the national semifinals.