In a dramatic College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, the Georgia Bulldogs fell 34-39 to the Ole Miss Rebels on January 1, 2026. Despite a valiant comeback to tie the game late, Georgia’s season ended on a bizarre safety, allowing Ole Miss to advance amid their own coaching turmoil.
Score Summary
Final Score: Georgia Bulldogs 34, Ole Miss Rebels 39
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown:
1st Quarter: Georgia 10, Ole Miss 7
2nd Quarter: Georgia 7 (total 17), Ole Miss 17 (total 24)
3rd Quarter: Georgia 7 (total 24), Ole Miss 0 (total 24)
4th Quarter: Georgia 10 (total 34), Ole Miss 15 (total 39)
The game saw multiple lead changes, with Ole Miss pulling ahead for good in the closing seconds thanks to a field goal and a safety on Georgia’s final kickoff return attempt.
Turning Points
The matchup was filled with momentum shifts and bold plays:
Georgia’s Early Edge: The Bulldogs struck first with a Nate Frazier rushing touchdown, but Frazier’s injury hampered their run game thereafter.
Ole Miss Second-Quarter Explosion: The Rebels scored 17 points, including a 40-yard touchdown pass from Trinidad Chambliss to De’Zhaun Stribling, taking a 24-17 halftime lead.
Georgia’s Fake Punt Success: Down 24-21 in the third, Georgia converted a fake punt on fourth-and-5 from their 30, leading to a field goal that tied the game at 24-24 entering the fourth.
Fourth-Quarter Drama: Ole Miss surged to 34-24 with a 13-yard TD pass to Harrison Wallace and a 5-yard Kewan Lacy rush plus two-point conversion. Georgia tied it at 34-34 on Gunner Stockton’s 18-yard TD to Zachariah Branch with under a minute left.
Climactic Finish: Chambliss led a quick drive for Lucas Carneiro’s 47-yard field goal to lead 37-34. On the kickoff, Georgia’s lateral went awry, resulting in a safety in their end zone for the 39-34 final.
Standout Performances
Gunner Stockton (Georgia QB): Stepped up with 285 passing yards, two touchdowns (including the late equalizer), showing promise in relief.
Zachariah Branch (Georgia WR): 8 receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown, providing explosive plays.
Trinidad Chambliss (Ole Miss QB): Dominated with 362 passing yards, two TDs, and key scrambles, fueling speculation about his future.
De’Zhaun Stribling and Harrison Wallace (Ole Miss WRs): Combined for over 200 yards and two scores.
Kewan Lacy (Ole Miss RB): 112 rushing yards and a touchdown, balancing the attack.
Georgia Defense: Forced turnovers but couldn’t contain Ole Miss in crunch time.
What the Result Means for Playoff Chances
The loss eliminates Georgia (11-3) from the playoffs, ending their season despite a strong regular-season rematch win over Ole Miss earlier. It raises questions about depth, injuries, and recruiting in the evolving SEC. For Ole Miss (12-2), the upset victory advances them to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal against Miami on January 8, 2026, keeping their national title hopes alive amid Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU and ongoing program drama.
