What to watch for in the Georgia vs Ole Miss rematch

Georgia and Ole Miss are set to face each other in the Sugar Bowl, making it the second time this season the teams will meet. Georgia scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to seal a 43-35 win in the previous matchup on October 18th.

A lot has changed for Ole Miss since the last matchup, most notably head coach Lane Kiffin is now the head coach at LSU. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding has taken over as the head coach and secured a 41-10 win over Tulane in the first round of the playoffs.

As for Georgia, the Bulldogs are on a hot streak. After losing to Alabama back September 27th, the team has won nine straight including a 28-7 win over Alabama in the SEC Championship to clinch a bye in the playoffs.

One major factor in the rematch will be the Ole Miss passing game. Ole Miss ranks third in the nation in passing yards per game with 309.6, while the Georgia defense ranks 47th in the nation allowing 204.8 passing yards per game. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss passed for 263 yards and had 3 total touchdowns last matchup.

Georgia’s defense has been a tear the last four weeks. The Bulldogs have not allowed more than 10 points in a game since November 8th, and have forced five turnovers.

Ole Miss has been on a tear of its own, winning its last six games. The Rebels have scored at least 30 points in all but two games this season, which has been one of the main reasons for the teams success.

Whoever wins will go on to face Miami in the semifinals. For Ole Miss, it would be there first ever time in the semifinals whereas for Georgia, they are looking to make it back to the semifinals for the first time since 2023.

About the Author Published Jan 1, 2026

CAMERON JOYCE

Cameron Joyce is an NCAAF, NFL, NHL, and MLB beat writer for Ball Exclusives. Cameron also previously worked at The University of Alabama's newspaper, "The Crimson White," covering volleyball and baseball.