Sugar Bowl Rematch: Can Ole Miss Flip the Script on Georgia?
The College Football Playoff has arrived, and for the first time in program history, Ole Miss is in the dance - and already making noise. After securing their first-ever Playoff win, the Rebels now head to New Orleans for a Sugar Bowl showdown with a familiar heavyweight: the Georgia Bulldogs.
This isn't just another postseason matchup. It's a rematch of a regular-season thriller, one where Georgia held off Ole Miss in a 43-35 shootout in Athens.
That game was electric, but it also exposed a glaring issue for the Rebels - their defense simply couldn’t get off the field. Georgia scored on every possession, and Ole Miss never forced a single punt.
Now the stakes are even higher. A trip to the national semifinals is on the line, and both teams come in with something to prove.
Georgia Has Hit Its Stride - and That’s a Problem for Ole Miss
Since that October meeting, Georgia has looked more like the team we’ve come to expect under Kirby Smart: disciplined, physical, and balanced on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Mike Bobo’s unit has found its rhythm, and defensively, Glenn Schumann’s group has taken a noticeable step forward.
That’s where things get tricky for Ole Miss. Pete Golding, now leading the Rebels after Lane Kiffin’s abrupt departure for LSU, has done well to stabilize the program in a turbulent moment. But his defense - the same one that couldn’t slow Georgia’s offense a few weeks ago - remains the biggest question mark heading into this rematch.
Let’s be clear: Georgia is not Tulane. The Rebels looked dominant in their last outing, but that was against an injury-depleted Green Wave squad that couldn’t match their speed or depth.
This is a different animal. Georgia is healthy, hungry, and experienced in these high-stakes environments.
They’ve been here before - and they know how to finish.
Can Ole Miss Keep Pace?
Offensively, Ole Miss has the firepower to make things interesting. Charlie Weis Jr. is back calling plays after briefly boarding that plane to Baton Rouge, and he’s got weapons to work with.
The Rebels can score - they proved that in Athens. But can they match Georgia drive for drive again, especially with the Bulldogs’ defense rounding into form?
That’s the million-dollar question. Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense looked sharp last week, but they’ll be facing a Georgia front that’s been playing its best football since that midseason scare. Schumann’s defense is faster, more aggressive, and better organized than it was in October - and they know what’s coming this time.
Coaching Stability Matters - Especially Now
There’s also the matter of coaching continuity. Georgia’s staff has been together for years, building a culture and system that’s proven to work in the biggest moments.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, is navigating a leadership transition at the worst possible time. Golding is a respected defensive mind, but he’s still new to the head coaching seat - and this is uncharted territory.
That matters in a Playoff setting. Preparation, in-game adjustments, and composure under pressure often separate contenders from pretenders.
Georgia has that edge. They’ve lived it.
Ole Miss is still learning what it takes.
The Path to an Upset
Now, let’s not write Ole Miss off entirely. They’ve got talent, confidence, and momentum.
And beating a team twice in the same season is never easy - especially one as explosive as the Rebels. If they can force a turnover or two, hit a few big plays early, and somehow find a way to get Georgia punter Brett Thorson on the field (something they didn’t do in the first meeting), they’ve got a shot.
But that’s a tall order. Georgia doesn’t beat itself. If the Bulldogs take care of the football and control the line of scrimmage - as they did in Athens - they’re built to win this game, and win it convincingly.
Bottom Line
Ole Miss is a great story - a team that’s grown up fast and earned its place on the national stage. But Georgia?
Georgia looks like a team on a mission. They’ve been tested, they’ve adjusted, and they’re peaking at the right time.
For the Rebels to pull off the upset, they’ll need their best defensive performance of the season - and then some. Because if Georgia’s offense picks up where it left off, and the Bulldogs continue to play clean, physical football, it could be a long night in New Orleans for the boys from Oxford.