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Ole Miss had to repeatedly delay celebrating its 39-34 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia on Thursday night.
After giving the go-ahead goal with six seconds remaining, Ole Miss got a safety on its final kickoff when the Georgia comeback attempted a cross-court lateral that hit the pylon. Players and coaches began rushing onto the field to celebrate, before having to return to the sidelines as officials demanded that Georgia take the kickoff with one second remaining.
Georgia then recovered an onside kick, falling on the ball to preserve the final second. Ole Miss players and coaches began celebrating again, believing the game had ended there.
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Kewan Lacy #5 of the Ole Miss Rebels is chased by Kj Bolden #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding was even doused in a Gatorade bath. However, officials again demanded that the last second be played, and stadium staff even began pushing the winner’s stage onto the field, before having to push it back to free up space for the final play.
Georgia ran another play in which they ran numerous laterals before the play stopped after dozens of seconds, before Ole Miss could finally celebrate its CFP victory.
The victory propelled Ole Miss (13-1, No. 6 seed in the CFP) into the semifinals against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday.
Opening on the heels of two lopsided CFP quarterfinals in the Orange and Rose bowls, the Sugar Bowl was dramatic until the end.
FORMER ESPN STAR EXPLOITS OLE MISS AFTER PETE GOLDING REVEALED HIMSELF AS LANE KIFFIN’S CHOSEN SUCCESSOR
Mississippi Rebels head coach Pete Golding is drenched with a Gatorade cooler by his players after their game against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2025 Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at Caesars Superdome. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
After seeing a 21-12 halftime lead turn into a 34-24 deficit with 9:02 to play, Georgia (12-2, CFP’s No. 3 seed) rallied to tie it, first driving for Gunner Stockton’s 18-yard TD pass to Zachariah Branch before Peyton Woodring’s short field goal tied the game with 55 seconds left in regulation.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss responded by setting up the game-winning kick with a 40-yard pass to De’Zhaun Stribling on third down from Mississippi’s own 30-yard line. A few plays later, kicker Lucas Carneiro, who had already broken Sugar Bowl records with field goals of 55 and 56 yards, kicked from 47 and sprinted triumphantly toward the Ole Miss sideline as the Rebels crowded around him jubilantly.
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Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels throws a pass under pressure from Elijah Griffin #90 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Harrison Wallace III caught nine passes for 156 yards and a touchdown, Stribling finished with seven catches for 122 yards, Kewan Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and the Rebels outgained the Bulldogs 473 yards to 343.
Stockton passed for 203 yards and a touchdown, and also scored two scores.
