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Ole Miss had to delay celebrating its 39-34 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia several times Thursday night.
After kicking a go-ahead field goal with six seconds left, Ole Miss received a safety on its final kickoff when Georgia’s return team attempted a cross-court lateral that hit the pylon. Players and coaches began running down the field in celebration, before having to return to the sideline when officials demanded that Georgia start with one second remaining.
Georgia then recovered an onside kick and fell on the ball to preserve the final second. The Ole Miss players and coaches again began celebrating, believing the game was over 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 Quarterfinals in 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, the referees 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 make room for the final play.
Georgia ran one more play in which they ran numerous laterals before the play failed after dozens of seconds, before Ole Miss could finally celebrate its CFP victory.
The victory sent Ole Miss (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) to a semifinal against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday.
Beginning immediately after two lopsided CFP quarterfinals in the Orange and Rose Bowls, the Sugar Bowl provided drama until the end.
FORMER ESPN STAR BLAWS OLE MISS AFTER PETE GOLDING IS REVEALED AS LANE KIFFIN’S CHOSEN SUCCESSOR
Mississippi Rebels head coach Pete Golding is dunked 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/Image Images)
After seeing a 21-12 halftime lead turn into a 34-24 deficit with 9:02 left, Georgia (12-2, CFP No. 3) rallied to tie the score, first driving in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Gunner Stockton to Zachariah Branch before a short field goal by Peyton Woodring tied the score with 55 seconds left in regulation.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss responded by setting up the 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, connected from the 47 and sprinted triumphantly toward the Ole Miss sideline as the Rebels jubilantly swarmed around him.
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Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels throws a pass while being pressured by Elijah Griffin #90 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff quarterfinals in 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 receptions for 122 yards, Kewan Lacy ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and the Rebels outgained the Bulldogs 473 yards to 343.
Stockton threw for 203 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for two scores.
