The Sugar Bowl features a high-stakes SEC rematch as No. 3 Georgia faces No. 6 Ole Miss on New Year’s Day at the Superdome, with a trip to the next round of the College Football Playoff on the line.
The Bulldogs and Rebels met earlier this season in Athens, where Georgia survived a shootout to claim a 43-35 victory in one of the most entertaining games of the year.
However, Lane Kiffin was coach on the sideline and went up against his good friend and former Alabama peer Kirby Smart in the "meeting of the minds." Now he's off to LSU.
Ole Miss riding momentum behind Trinidad Chambliss
Ole Miss enters the Sugar Bowl riding a six-game winning streak since that loss to Georgia. The Rebels looked dominant in their first-round playoff win over Tulane, led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss’ dual-threat performance.
Chambliss threw for 282 yards and a touchdown while adding two rushing scores, spreading the ball efficiently across the offense. Deuce Alexander paced the receiving corps with 87 yards, while De’Zhaun Sterling added 79 yards and a touchdown. Dae’Quan Wright chipped in 64 yards as Ole Miss consistently attacked all levels of the field.
Running back Kewan Lacy remains the key variable. The junior rushed for 87 yards before exiting with a shoulder injury against Tulane. On the season, Lacy has been one of college football’s most productive backs with 1,366 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns, ranking second nationally. Georgia held him to a season-low 31 rushing yards in the first meeting, though he still scored twice.
Georgia defense sets the tone
Georgia enters as one of the nation’s elite defensive units, allowing just 79.2 rushing yards per game, fourth best nationally. The Bulldogs did not allow a 100-yard rusher all season and have surrendered just 15.92 points per game overall.
The defense is anchored by linebacker CJ Allen, a Butkus Award finalist who led the team with 84 tackles, along with Raylen Wilson, who finished second with 70. Georgia’s disciplined front seven could force Chambliss into tougher throws and create turnover chances for the secondary.
Gunner Stockton leads efficient Georgia offense
Quarterback Gunner Stockton has been equally careful with the football. The redshirt junior threw for 3,928 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions during the regular season. He was outstanding in the first meeting against Ole Miss, completing 83.9% of his passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns while also adding 59 rushing yards and a score.
Stockton’s favorite target has been Zacharia Branch, who leads Georgia with 73 receptions for 733 yards. If Ole Miss commits extra coverage to Branch, others must step up — including tight end Lucky Lawson, who caught three touchdowns in the first matchup.
Georgia may again lean on its ground game after rushing for 221 yards in Athens. Nate Frazier leads the Bulldogs with 861 rushing yards, while Chauncey Bowens adds another physical element.
What to watch in the Sugar Bowl
Date: Thursday, Jan. 1
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
TV: ESPN (Available on FuboTV)
If Georgia controls the line of scrimmage and limits Lacy early, the Bulldogs are well-positioned to advance. For Ole Miss, the path to victory hinges on Lacy’s health and Chambliss’ ability to extend plays against an elite defense.
One thing is certain: with playoff implications and SEC familiarity, the Sugar Bowl rematch has all the makings of another classic.
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