Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
Georgia and Ole Miss meet for a third time in the opening rounds of the CFP. Georgia took the first thriller 43–35 and now looks to avoid another season-ending Sugar Bowl loss.
Georgia Wins IF…
They can put Ole Miss away early and play mistake free football.
Last time out, Ole Miss did something that no other team has done to Georgia in the Kirby Smart era and scored on their first five possessions, taking a 35-26 lead to the fourth quarter. I don’t expect a repeat, but Ole Miss has been sharp on script all season and showed it again against Tulane, scoring in the game’s opening minute.
I expect there to be a large Ole Miss crowd in New Orleans. I don’t think it will be a home game for the Rebels, but I fully expect it to be closer to a 70/30 split than an even one in the Superdome. Georgia needs to put their foot on Ole Miss’ neck early and make sure the crowd doesn’t become a factor.
The defense is clicking at the right time, Georgia is gonna be scary this playoffs. #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/2PekHfYt6V
— Top Tier Georgia (@TopTierUGA) December 12, 2025
Ole Miss wins IF…
They can be balanced on offense and Georgia makes some mistakes.
Georgia hasn’t allowed more than 70 yards rushing or a rushing touchdown in any of their last four games. Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy is a key to this offense’s success for Ole Miss. He had his lowest rushing output of the season against Georgia earlier this season with just 12 carries and 31 yards. Since then, he’s logged at least 15 carries in five of the last six games, topped 20 carries in four of those, scored 11 touchdowns, and hit 100 yards in three of them.
Ole Miss cannot win this game without Lacy being effective in some capacity. At the very least he needs to be a viable decoy in the RPO game with Trinidad Chambliss. Chambliss was great in the first game against Georgia, rushing for 42 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He’ll need to be a factor again this go round as a one dimensional offense cannot beat Georgia.
Kewan Lacy was dressed out at practice today. We didn’t see much but what did see was walkthrough-type stuff. Has a brace contraption on his right shoulder. pic.twitter.com/xtwbSEOtsM
— Jake Thompson (@JakeThompsonOn3) December 28, 2025
Georgia X-Factor – WR Colbie Young
Young hasn’t seen game action since the last time these two met back in October. He’s still second on the team in receiving yards. He’s a physical mismatch for most corners at 6-foot-4, and will be a welcomed site for QB Gunner Stockton, who hasn’t had as many options over the last month or so despite putting up great numbers.
The last time these two played, Lawson Luckie had a career game with three touchdowns. I would imagine that Ole Miss will be a little more focused on preventing him from beating them twice. That gives me some hesitation with Jones and makes me wonder if fellow tight end Oscar Delp could be in line for a breakout. Still, Delp has just two catches over his last three games.
Which brings the focus back to Young, who offers a true downfield element in an offense that can draw defenses in with the screen game, then strike over the top with his speed.
COLBIE YOUNG MAY BE BACK FOR THE SUGAR BOWL??? 🎱👀 pic.twitter.com/9tyitnSIdT
— Chanluh 🪐 (@chanluh) December 23, 2025
Ole Miss X-Factor – QB Trinidad Chambliss
I’m not sure there’s a single skill-position player capable of taking over against what has become one of the nation’s best defenses down the stretch. I do think Trinidad Chambliss is the best point guard at quarterback in America. He’s able to distribute the football to so many different weapons efficiently and at an elite level.
In his last four games, Chambliss has completed 77.1 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns while averaging 336.5 yards of offense per game. He has waltzed his way to 300 yards of offense in nine of 11 games he’s started this season and made it look easy. He’ll need to have a career game on Thursday if Ole Miss wants their season to continue.
Locked On Ole Miss podcaster Steven Willis weighed in on which fan base he believes will have the larger presence at the Sugar Bowl, stating that Ole Miss fans will outnumber Georgia fans in New Orleans. 🤔🤨
Will the Dawgs fans travel better than the Rebel fans? 👀 pic.twitter.com/0u2wYZoWzA
— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) December 26, 2025
Score Prediction
It’s hard to beat a team twice, but this Georgia team is clearly playing their best football at the most important part of the season. They seem laser focused, and as healthy as they’ve been all season. They’re also playing in a building where they saw their dreams of another national championship come to an end last year. I don’t think they forgot, and I think they’ll play with a massive chip on their shoulder on Thursday.
Georgia 34, Ole Miss 23
More SEC News
