How Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss showed they have talent to take CFP title in win vs Georgia
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NEW ORLEANS − Ole Miss football is still playing in the College Football Playoff.
The Rebels beat Georgia 39-34 in the Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss won on a 47-yard field goal kick from Lucas Carneiro with nine seconds remaining. Ole Miss added a safety
With the win, Ole Miss (13-1) advances to the semifinals of the CFP. Georgia (12-2) is eliminated. Ole Miss will face No. 10 Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8.
Here's what to know.
Ole Miss has top-end talent to win CFP with Trinidad Chambliss
The Rebels will be the higher-seeded team in the Fiesta Bowl and look poised to continue their run. Ole Miss won through its stars.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was remarkable. He was 30-for-46 for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Chambliss evaded Georgia pass rushers (zero sacks) and threw no interceptions.
Running back Kewan Lacy was elite. He bounced back from an early fumble and rushed for 98 yards on 22 carries. He had two scores.
If Ole Miss gets that level of production, it has the capability to beat Miami, No. 1 Indiana or No. 5 Oregon.
Ole Miss can go into 2026 with confidence in coach Pete Golding
There was pressure on Ole Miss coach Pete Golding entering the CFP.
If the Rebels were beaten by Tulane at home in the first round of the CFP, it would be a quick, disappointing end to Golding's first chance as a head coach. The same thing applies if Ole Miss was embarassed in the second round against Georgia.
Neither happened. Ole Miss crushed Tulane 45-10 and bounced the SEC champions. It's given the post-Lane Kiffin era tremendous momentum.
The win stops drops from haunting Ole Miss offense
A pair of drops from Ole Miss pass catchers had a noticable impact.
Tight end Dae'Quan Wright dropped a ball on third-and-3 with two minutes remaining in the first half. Ole Miss punted on the next play.
The second came with 18 seconds remaining in the first half. The Rebels were driving in an attempt to get into field goal position when receiver Harrison Wallace dropped a pass at the UGA 28-yard line. Two plays later, time expired in the half just before the Rebels could attempt a kick.
Ole Miss had crowd advantage in Sugar Bowl
The game sounded more like an Ole Miss home game than a neutral site bowl game.
Ole Miss fans packed the east side of the Caesars Superdome. Georgia fans were certainly noticeable on the west side but most of the seats on both end zones were occupied by those wearing powder blue.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Ole Miss, Trinidad Chambliss beat Georgia, have talent to win CFP
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