At a Glance
- Ole Miss will face Georgia again in the Sugar Bowl for potential redemption.
- Georgia (12-1) won the previous meeting 43-35, outgaining Ole Miss 510 yards.
- Key focus: Ole Miss defense’s turnaround and Georgia’s offensive evolution.
- Why it matters: The rematch could define both teams’ playoff legacies.
With the College Football Playoff quarterfinals looming, the Mississippi Rebels are looking for redemption against the third-seeded Georgia Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl. The two teams last clashed on October 18, with Georgia’s 43-35 win leaving Ole Miss’ defense scrambling for answers. Now, the Rebels aim to lock in the gains that propelled them to five straight wins and a CFP berth.
Upcoming Rematch
Ole Miss and Georgia both travel to New Orleans on Monday to prepare for a New Year’s Day showdown in the Superdome. Georgia (12-1), the SEC champions, and Ole Miss (12-1), the sixth seed, entered the game with identical records. The Rebels’ defensive unit, battered by the loss, now faces a Bulldogs offense that has sharpened its execution.
- Georgia: 12-1, SEC champions, third seed.
- Ole Miss: 12-1, CFP sixth seed.
- Last meeting: Georgia 43-35, 510 yards, no punts.
Game Recap and Analysis
In the October matchup, Georgia’s offense surged, gaining 510 yards and never punting. They required a 17-0 fourth-quarter rally to secure the win. Ole Miss’ defense, after the loss, had to rethink its strategy.
Bryan Brown said:
> “First, they take care of the football. They execute at a higher level and they’ve got their playmakers making plays.”
Kirby Smart remarked:
> “It’s really overrated in terms of rematches. How you play on a given day defines the outcome. Both teams have evolved, and everybody will have new wrinkles.”
Quarterback Gunnar Stockton threw for 289 yards on 26-of-31 passing, completing three touchdown passes to tight end Lawson Luckie. Brown praised Stockton’s game-making beyond the numbers.
Bryan Brown added:
> “He’s a gamer. He extends plays and he makes the right plays. It’s not all measurements for a quarterback; it’s about making the right plays. That’s what he does. That’s what he is. He’s a football player.”
Defense’s Redemption Path
Wydett Williams Jr. stated:
> “After that game, we had to lock in more. We had to bond more as a team, whatever we had to do to play better on the defensive side – anything we needed to do, we pressed on harder.”
Williams said the loss was a turning point that forced the Rebels to bond and play harder on defense. Ole Miss entered the CFP with a 45-10 triumph over Tulane, the 11th seed, and improved in quarterback pressures and turnover ratio over the past six contests.
TJ Dottery said:
> “Georgia is a great team. But this time, we’ve got to be better.”
Jaylon Braxton said:
> “We didn’t execute. We have really focused in practice on doing the things that the coaches call.”
Strategic Adjustments
Bryan Brown said:
> “Got to get off the field when we have that opportunity and avoid the busted assignment. Hopefully, we won’t have anybody running loose in the secondary.”
Brown highlighted missed assignments that cost Ole Miss last time and outlined a plan to eliminate them. He stressed the importance of avoiding loose secondary play and maintaining coverage integrity.
| Team | Record | Seed | Conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 12-1 | 3 | SEC |
| Ole Miss | 12-1 | 6 | SEC |
Both teams have shown growth since their last encounter, and the Sugar Bowl will test whether the Rebels can turn the earlier loss into a victory.
News Of Austin Sports Writers Gavin U. Stonebridge in Atlanta and Gavin U. Stonebridge in New Orleans contributed.
Key Takeaways
- Ole Miss seeks redemption after a 43-35 loss to Georgia.
- Georgia’s offense has sharpened, gaining 510 yards and never punting.
- Defensive turnaround and strategic focus on missed assignments are critical for Ole Miss.
As the two SEC powerhouses line up in New Orleans, the outcome will not only decide the Sugar Bowl winner but also cement each team’s narrative heading into the national championship conversation.
