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Ole Miss had to postpone the celebration of its 39-34 Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia several times Thursday night.
After kicking a field goal with six seconds left, Ole Miss was awarded a safety on its final kickoff when Georgia’s return team attempted a cross-field lateral that hit the pylon. Players and coaches began to rush the court in celebration before having to return to the sideline as officials called for Georgia to start with one second remaining.
Georgia then got an onside kick and fell on the ball to preserve the last second. Ole Miss players and coaches started celebrating again, thinking 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 in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinals 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 drenched in a Gatorade bath. But the referees again demanded that the last second be played and the stadium staff even started pushing the winner’s leg onto the pitch before having to push it back to clear space for the final play.
Georgia ran another play, running several laterals before the play fizzled after dozens of seconds before Ole Miss could finally celebrate their CFP win.
The win sent Ole Miss (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) on to the semifinals against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday.
The Sugar Bowl, which started on the heels of two lopsided CFP quarterfinals at the Orange and Rose bowls, provided drama until the end.
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Mississippi Rebels head coach Pete Golding is showered 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 watching a 21-12 halftime lead turn into a 34-24 deficit with 9:02 left, Georgia (12-2, CFP No. 3 seed) rallied to tie it, driving first on Gunner Stockton’s 18-yard TD pass to Zachariah Branch before Peyton Woodring’s short 5-second field goal.
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, kicked from 47 and sprinted triumphantly toward the Ole Miss sideline as the Rebels cheered 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 in the first quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff quarterfinals 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 TD, Stribling finished with seven catches for 122 yards, Kewan Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two TDs and the Rebels outgained the Bulldogs 473 yards to 343.
Stockton passed for 203 yards and a touchdown, and also ran for two scores.
