Lead
On Jan. 2, 2026 in the Sugar Bowl, No. 6 Ole Miss completed a dramatic comeback to upset No. 3 Georgia 39-34 and advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss led a second-half rally and set up Lucas Carneiro’s game-winning 47-yard field goal with six seconds left. Ole Miss added a safety on the ensuing kickoff, producing the final five-point margin. The Rebels will face No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8.
Key Takeaways
- Final score: Ole Miss 39, Georgia 34; Ole Miss advances to the CFP semifinal (Fiesta Bowl) on Jan. 8 versus Miami.
- Ole Miss trailed by nine at halftime (21-12) but outscored Georgia 27-13 in the second half to complete the comeback.
- Trinidad Chambliss finished 30-of-46 for 362 yards and two passing touchdowns, engineering the late-game drive.
- Lucas Carneiro made a go-ahead 47-yard field goal with six seconds remaining and earlier hit career-long kicks of 55 and 56 yards in the first quarter.
- RB Kewan Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns, raising his season total to a school-record 23 rushing scores.
- Georgia’s fourth-and-2 gamble from its own 33 with 9:37 left led to a strip-sack by Suntarine Perkins and a short-field touchdown that briefly swung momentum.
- Ole Miss improves to 13-1 on the season and is 2-0 since Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU; Georgia entered the game as the No. 3 seed.
Background
Ole Miss entered the Sugar Bowl amid a narrative-rich season: the Rebels lost once earlier in the year and have sustained their run despite the midseason coaching change when Lane Kiffin left for LSU. The program has leaned on a balanced attack and timely special teams play, turning a season that raised questions into one that now includes a CFP semifinal berth.
Georgia arrived as the No. 3 seed with a veteran starter at quarterback, Gunner Stockton, who has grown into the role after an earlier-career learning curve. The Bulldogs relied on a power-running approach and opportunistic defense, and their second-quarter burst — including a 46-yard scoop-and-score by Daylen Everette — produced a nine-point halftime advantage.
Main Event
Ole Miss opened the scoring in the first quarter when Lucas Carneiro drilled a 55-yard field goal, then followed with a 56-yarder later in the period, both career highs for the junior kicker. Georgia answered in the second quarter, turning a sustained run game and two Stockton rushing touchdowns, plus Everette’s forced turnover return, into a 21-12 advantage at the break.
The second half belonged largely to the Rebels. Chambliss reoriented the offense with a string of improvisational plays early in the fourth quarter, including a 44-yard downfield strike and a series of third-down conversions that culminated in Kewan Lacy touchdown runs. Ole Miss converted a two-point try to take a brief lead before Georgia countered with a long drive to tie the game late.
At 9:37 of the fourth quarter, Georgia elected to go for it on fourth-and-2 from its own 33. The decision unraveled when Ole Miss tacklers, led by Suntarine Perkins, strip-sacked Stockton; the Rebels recovered deep in Bulldog territory and quickly turned the turnover into a touchdown, shifting the scoreboard and momentum.
With 32 seconds remaining, Chambliss completed a 40-yard pass to De’Zhaun Stribling on third-and-5 to set the Rebels at Georgia’s 30. Three plays later Lucas Carneiro converted from 47 yards with six seconds left. Georgia’s subsequent desperation kickoff play resulted in a safety, producing the final 39-34 margin.
Analysis & Implications
The victory underscores the growing value of Ole Miss’s offensive resilience and special teams reliability. Carneiro’s leg made the early difference and ultimately decided the game, highlighting how a single reliable kicker can swing high-stakes matchups in playoff-style settings.
Trinidad Chambliss, a Division II transfer, has now provided multiple high-leverage performances; his 362-yard night reinforced questions about how evaluations of non-FBS transfers have evolved and how program fit can unlock upside. For Ole Miss, the win also serves as a strong statement that the program can maintain momentum after a prominent coaching departure.
For Georgia, the decision to go for it on its own 33 late in the fourth quarter will be examined closely by analysts and the program alike. The attempt reflected an aggressive risk posture that backfired when play execution broke down; in postseason contexts, such gambles carry amplified consequences for both game outcomes and public perception of strategic tradeoffs.
Looking ahead, matchups with Miami in the Fiesta Bowl will test whether Ole Miss’s second-half surge is repeatable against a different stylistic opponent. The Rebels must protect Chambliss and retain balance between the run and pass while Georgia will need to regroup defensively and reassess situational play-calling under pressure.
Comparison & Data
| Stat/Item | Ole Miss | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 39 | 34 |
| QB performance | Trinidad Chambliss 30-46, 362 yards, 2 TD | Gunner Stockton (multiple TDs; strong first half) |
| Top rusher | Kewan Lacy 98 yards, 2 TD (season total 23) | Team rushing drive success (key early gains) |
| Key kicking | Lucas Carneiro FGs: 55, 56 (career highs), 47 (game-winner) | Peyton Woodring FG 24 (plus missed 55) |
| Turnovers | Ole Miss recovered fumble on Georgia fourth-down gamble | Fumble returned for TD by Daylen Everette (2Q) |
The table highlights how special teams and timely turnovers shaped the final result. While Ole Miss relied on long field goals and late drives, Georgia manufactured a second-quarter scoring surge and forced a pivotal fumble return. In playoff settings, such contrasts often decide who advances.
Reactions & Quotes
Final: Ole Miss 39, Georgia 34 — Rebels advance to the CFP semifinal.
CBS Sports (media)
Trinidad Chambliss finished 30-of-46 for 362 yards and two touchdowns, a stat line that defined the Rebels’ comeback.
CBS Sports (media)
Unconfirmed
- The precise strategic reasoning inside Georgia’s sideline for the fourth-and-2 gamble (reports suggest aggressive intent, but internal rationale has not been officially detailed).
- Whether Lane Kiffin’s departure directly affected in-game preparation or locker-room dynamics for Ole Miss beyond observable results (internal team assessments are ongoing).
Bottom Line
Ole Miss’s 39-34 Sugar Bowl victory is both a validation of the Rebels’ season-long resilience and a reminder that special teams and late-game execution decide playoff outcomes. Carneiro’s leg and Chambliss’s late composure combined to overturn a nine-point deficit and send Ole Miss to the CFP semifinal.
The win raises immediate questions for Georgia’s coaching staff about risk management in late-game situations and gives Ole Miss a momentum advantage heading into a Jan. 8 semifinal against Miami. For neutral observers, the result reinforces the unpredictability of the College Football Playoff and the premium on clutch performance in January.