Ole Miss vs Georgia

The star of the second round of the College Playoffs was the Allstate Sugar Bowl featuring the Ole Miss Rebels and the Georgia Bulldogs. Entering the game, Ole Miss was coming off a first-round win against Tulane. Georgia was the SEC champion and the three-seed in the playoffs. A sold-out Caesars Superdome was ready to watch an instant classic playoff game that came down to the wire.

The game kicked off with both teams punting on their first possession. Ole Miss drew first blood as kicker Lucas Carneiro nailed a 55-yard field goal. Ole Miss’s defense forced another punt and sent out Carneiro, who drilled a 56-yard field goal to put them up by six. Georgia fought down the field before concluding the first quarter of action.

In Ole Miss territory, Georgia ran the ball well to the redzone. On first and ten, Georgia Quarterback Gunner Stockton scrambled and dove into the endzone. Ole Miss responded by going the length of the field. On 3rd and goal, Ole Miss Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss rolled out and connected to tight end Luke Hasz for a Rebel touchdown. Ole Miss went for two, failing to convert. Georgia went right back down the field with a plethora of explosive plays. Stockton found running back Cash Jones, who, making the defenders miss, went all the way to the goal line. Georgia ran the tush push for another Bulldogs touchdown. Ole Miss got the ball back; however a handoff to running back Kewan Lacy resulted in a fumble. That ball was scooped up and taken all the way back for another Georgia touchdown. Ole Miss had a chance right before half, but poor clock management sent the game to half with a score of 21-12 in favor of the Bulldogs. 

After the half, Ole Miss found itself at midfield on a fourth and one. They took the gamble. Lacy took the direct snap and, swarmed by defenders, turned the ball over. Georgia then missed a field goal, giving the ball back to the Rebels. On 1st and goal, Lacy took the handoff all the way to the endzone, tacking on 7 more points. Georgia faked a punt and converted; however, they had to settle for a field goal, concluding the third quarter. 

On third down and seven, Chambliss scrambled to the goal line, finding Lacy downfield in order to pick up the first down. Chambliss continued to work his magic; that drive concluded with another Lacy touchdown. The Rebels went for two and converted. Georgia went for it on fourth and two on their own thirty. Stockton fumbled as he was sacked, turning the ball over. Chambliss wasted no time, throwing a touchdown to receiver Harrison Wallace. Stockton returned the favor, driving down the field and connecting to receiver Zachariah Branch for a Bulldogs touchdown. Georgia went down the field, cashing in on a 24-yard field goal to tie the game. Ole Miss got the ball back with 56 seconds left in the game. On third and five with their backs against the ropes, Chambliss connected to De’Zhaun Stribling for a 45-yard catch, putting Ole Miss in field goal range. Carneiro stepped up and split the uprights, sending Ole Miss to the next round of the playoffs.