Georgia and Ole Miss’ mid-October showdown was one of the wildest games of this college football season. The two teams traded touchdowns throughout the game, with Georgia finally managing to string some stops together in the fourth quarter of a 43-35 victory. Quarterback Gunner Stockton had a signature performance where he accounted for five touchdowns as the Bulldogs got one of their biggest wins of the season.
And now the college football world is set for a rematch this week at the Sugar Bowl after Ole Miss demolished Tulane 41-10 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The Rebels have a chance to avenge their one loss of the season in a playoff run that’s already had a bit of a revenge theme after former head coach Lane Kiffin left Oxford to coach LSU.
The Bulldogs have had their share of success in rematches lately, triumphing over Texas twice in 2024 and beating Alabama this season in the SEC title game after losing to the Tide in the regular season back in September. But head coach Kirby Smart doesn't view that as any kind of advantage.
“It's really overrated in terms of re-matches and things like that,” Smart said via dawgcentral.com. “I think how you play defines what the outcome of the game is– your ability to be explosive, turn the ball over, win situational football. There's all kinds of things in that thing to figure out, and it really has very little to do with the time before you played them.”
Georgia has its hands full with Ole Miss in CFP rematch
Both Georgia and Ole Miss have arguably looked their best this season since they last met. The Bulldogs blew the doors off Alabama in the SEC championship and also handily beat Texas, with their young defense rounding into form as of late.
Georgia’s pass rush has rebounded from the fewest sacks in the SEC in its first eight games to 12 in its past five, and its secondary led by Ellis Robinson IV and Demello Jones has also made major strides.
Ole Miss rebounded from the Georgia loss by beating a playoff Oklahoma team and hasn’t had much trouble with anyone they’ve played since then.
Dual-threat senior QB Trinidad Chambliss has been playing as good as any quarterback in the country lately, and running back Kewan Lacy has the second-most rushing yards in the SEC. The Rebels’ vertical passing attack has been lethal and is tough to stop once deep threat wide receivers Deuce Alexander and Harrison Wallace III are consistently getting involved.
On defense, the Rebels have an imposing front anchored by senior Zxavian Harris and sophomore Will Echoles. Junior Princewill Umanmielen has been one of the SEC’s most productive pass rushers with eight sacks, and TJ Dottery and Suntarine Perkins are one of the nation’s best linebacker duos.
Lane Kiffin absence won't get in Ole Miss' way
Even with all the Kiffin drama, Ole Miss is still loaded on both sides of the ball and has not missed a beat since he spurned them for LSU. But Georgia is a significant step up in talent from Tulane. This’ll be a good opportunity to see how valuable Kiffin truly is to Ole Miss’ in-game performance.
The Bulldogs are dealing with a turf toe injury to edge rusher Gabe Harris, but Smart said they are hoping to get him back in time for the Sugar Bowl. Georgia’s offense could receive a huge boost with the returns of receiver Colbie Young and tight end Ethan Barbour from leg fractures, but their outlook is unclear.
Chambliss and Lacy both left Ole Miss’ first round playoff win with injuries but later returned and are expected to play.
A lot has changed with both teams since they last met, particularly Georgia’s defense playing better lately and Ole Miss’ coaching situation, but if it’s anything like their first meeting we should be in for a treat.