Georgia football's improved pass rush was no match for Trinidad Chambliss
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Finding ways to get to the quarterback more often was a big part of Georgia football’s defensive resurgence down the stretch of the season, including in wins over top 10 teams in Texas and Alabama.
Georgia rang up 12 sacks in its last five games entering the College Football Playoff but came up emptyhanded again against Ole Miss and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
He lit up the Bulldogs for 362 passing yards and set a Sugar Bowl record with 13 straight completions in a 39-34 win Jan. 1 in New Orleans.
That helped send the Rebels to a CFP semifinal matchup against Miami on Thursday night in the Fiesta Bowl.
“I feel like we could have affected the QB more when we were blitzing,” Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson said. “He’s just elusive, bro.”
Chambliss finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting, but the way he played against the Bulldogs, completing 30 of 46 passes and throwing 2 touchdowns, would put him among favorites in 2026 if he gains another season of eligibility.
Ole Miss has allowed sacks in eight of 14 games.
Georgia did not record a sack in either of its games against the Rebels, including in its 43-35 win on Oct. 18.
The Rebels’ 362 yards in the rematch were the most Ole Miss threw this season against an FBS team.
“Their quarterback is just incredible,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I mean, he does an unbelievable job of not giving up sacks and making plays with his legs.”
Georgia had just 3 tackles for loss in the game compared to 9 for Ole Miss.
Georgia brought five on a fourth-and-3 in the third quarter but CJ Allen was blocked in the backfield and Ole Miss completed a 36-yard pass.
Chambliss escaped pressure in the fourth quarter on a 75-yard drive, flipping a pass to running back Kewan Lacy with Josh Horton baring down on him, scrambling away from three players right and then cutting back left to complete a pass for a first down to Lacy and then eluding Christen Miller and throwing for 44 yards to Harrison Wallace.
With the game on the line and tied, Georgia rushed five and Chambliss hit De’Zhaun Stribling for 40 yards to set up the Rebels’ field goal with 6 seconds left.
Georgia’s leader in sacks this season, linebacker Chris Cole, finished with 4.5.
That tied for the fewest in a season for the Bulldogs since three players had 3 in 2008.
Smart said in early November that Georgia’s defense isn’t usually “a sack machine.”
The Bulldogs won the national title in 2022 with Mykel Williams as the sack leader on the team with 4.5 and Jalon Walker led Georgia in sacks in 2023 with 5.
Georgia dropped from 37 sacks last season in 14 games to 20 this year in 14. That ranked 116th nationally in sacks per game and was the fewest total sacks for Georgia since 2000.
The Bulldogs were sorely missing defensive end Gabe Harris with a turf toe injury in the Sugar Bowl. He had 4 tackles for loss and a sack in Georgia’s last three games against FBS opponents.
Georgia took a hit last January when Damon Wilson transferred to Missouri, where he had 9 sacks this season. Georgia is seeking $390,000 in liquidated damages for what it says is breaking his NIL agreement. Wilson is countersuing.
Georgia will return Cole, outside linebacker Quintavius Johnson and promising freshman linebacker Zayden Walker. Johnson and Walker each had 2 sacks. Harris told On3 before the Sugar Bowl that he planned to return in 2026 and Wilson (2.5 sacks) also could be back.
The Bulldogs appear to be looking for pass rush help in the transfer portal.
Caleb Herring from Tennessee plans to visit Georgia, reports 247Sports, and Amaris Williams from Auburn was in Athens on Tuesday, according to his Instagram account.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia pass rush ramped up down stretch but was stymied in Sugar Bowl
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