Ole Miss beats Georgia 39-34 in thrilling Sugar Bowl game victory
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Ole Miss had to postpone the celebration of their 39-34 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia multiple times on Thursday night.
After kicking the field goal with six seconds left, Ole Miss was awarded a safety on the final kickoff when Georgia’s return team attempted a cross-field lateral that crashed into the goal. After players and coaches began running onto the field in celebration, they were forced to return to the sidelines and officials called for Georgia’s kickoff with one second remaining.
Georgia then recovered the onside kick and fell on the ball to save the last second. Ole Miss players and coaches began celebrating again, believing the game was over there.
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Kewan Lacy #5 of the Ole Miss Rebels is chased by Kj Bolden #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Ole Miss Head Coach Pete Golding was even doused in Gatorade. However, officials once again demanded that the last second be played and stadium staff even began pushing the winner’s stage onto the field before being forced to push the stage back to make room for the final game.
Georgia ran another play in which they executed numerous lateral moves before the play ended in failure tens of seconds later, until Ole Miss finally celebrated the CFP victory.
The win moves Ole Miss (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) into the Fiesta Bowl semifinals against Miami next Thursday.
Kicking off on the heels of two lopsided CFP quarterfinals in the Orange and Rose bowls, the Sugar Bowl provided drama until the very end.
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Mississippi Rebels head coach Pete Golding is dunked on a Gatorade cooler by his players following their game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2025 Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at Caesars Superdome. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
After seeing a 21-12 halftime lead turn into a 34-24 lead with 9:02 left in the game, Georgia (12-2, CFP No. 3 seed) rallied to tie the game, first scoring on Gunner Stockton’s 18-yard TD pass to Zachariah Branch and tying it with 55 seconds left in regulation on Peyton Woodring’s short throw.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss responded by setting up the winning kick with a 40-yard pass to De’Zhaun Stribling on third down from Mississippi’s own 30-yard line. A few plays later, kicker Lucas Carneiro, who had broken Sugar Bowl records with field goals of 55 and 56 yards, kicked a field goal from the 47 and ran triumphantly toward the Ole Miss sideline as the Rebels gathered around him in jubilation.
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Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels throws a pass under pressure from Elijah Griffin #90 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Harrison Wallace III caught nine passes for 156 yards and a TD, Stribling finished with seven catches for 122 yards, Kewan Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two TDs, and the Rebels outgained the Bulldogs 473 yards passing to 343 yards.
Stockton threw for 203 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for two scores.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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