Georgia has one major problem to solve when it takes the field against Ole Miss on Saturday night, and his name is Trinidad Chambliss.
In two games against Georgia last year, the Rebels' quarterback threw for 625 yards and five total touchdowns, helping Ole Miss knock Georgia out of the College Football Playoff, and now he'll have another opportunity to spoil the Bulldogs' championship aspirations.
But Georgia's best strategy for slowing down Chambliss might not involve its defense at all. Instead, the Bulldogs could have their greatest success neutralizing Chambliss by making sure the Ole Miss quarterback spends as much time as possible as a spectator.
That means running the football, sustaining long drives, and controlling the clock. It's not necessarily the sexiest game plan, but it could be the difference between Georgia leaving Oxford with a victory or another frustrating loss to the Rebels.
And the numbers suggest Georgia is more than capable of doing exactly that.
Georgia's offense could be the key to neutralizing Trinidad Chambliss
Chambliss enters Saturday's showdown having thrown for 2,189 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He's also a dangerous runner, accounting for seven rushing touchdowns. Clearly, the more opportunities Chambliss gets with the football, the more chances he has to make Georgia pay.
Statistic | Oct. 18 vs UGA | Sugar Bowl vs UGA | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
Comp/Att | 19/36 | 30/46 | 49/82 |
Passing Yards | 263 | 362 | 625 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 2 | 3 |
INTs | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing Attemps | 9 | 4 | 13 |
Rushing Yards | 42 | 14 | 56 |
Rushing TDs | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Total Offense | 305 | 376 | 681 |
Total TDs | 3 | 2 | 5 |
That's why former Georgia linebacker Davin Bellamy offered an interesting perspective during a recent appearance on the DawgNation podcast. Bellamy suggested the best way to handle Chambliss is to "starve him," keeping the Ole Miss quarterback off the field by establishing the running game and controlling time of possession.
@DavinBellamy17 plan for Trinidad Chambliss: don’t chase him, starve him. Run the ball, win time of possession, give Ole Miss as few snaps as possible. With Kewan Lacy not expected to play, the third-and-longs should show up. #DawgNationDaily pic.twitter.com/hj4ccsRQa4
— DawgNation (@DawgNation) November 5, 2026
It's a simple concept, but one that makes plenty of sense when considering Georgia's offensive strengths.
The Bulldogs enter Saturday averaging 200.1 rushing yards per game, and they just ran for 217 yards in their 27-8 victory over Florida. Conversely, Ole Miss has struggled to consistently get opponents off the field.
The Rebels rank No. 113 nationally in defensive third-down percentage, allowing opponents to convert 42.4 percent of their opportunities. Georgia, on the other hand, ranks No. 11 nationally in offensive third-down conversions at 51.6 percent.
That's a matchup the Bulldogs should be looking to exploit.
If Georgia can consistently pick up four or five yards on first down, keep its offense ahead of the chains and convert manageable third downs, the Bulldogs can put together the kind of lengthy, clock-devouring possessions that make life frustrating for an opposing quarterback. And Ole Miss has already shown a tendency to lose the time-of-possession battle.
The Rebels average just 27 minutes and 27 seconds of possession per game, while Georgia averages 30 minutes and 48 seconds.
One caveat: controlling the clock won't matter much if Georgia settles for field goals or comes away empty-handed in the red zone. Chambliss has the ability to erase a lengthy touchdown drive with one explosive play.
That's why the Bulldogs must combine a methodical offensive approach with high efficiency when scoring opportunities present themselves.
It's not all on the offense, as Georgia's defense will still have to make plays. Smart can't expect his offense to completely eliminate the threat Chambliss presents, but perhaps the smartest way to defend one of the country's most dangerous quarterbacks is to make sure he doesn't have the football in his hands.
Georgia doesn't have to shut Chambliss down on every possession; it just needs to make sure he doesn't get very many of them.
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