If you're asking about the georgia football score, you're likely looking for the result of the Jan. 1, 2026, College Football Playoff (CFP) Quarterfinal. It was a heartbreaker for Dawg Nation.
The final score was Ole Miss 39, Georgia 34.
New Orleans is usually a place of celebration for Georgia fans, but the Caesars Superdome felt a lot colder after this one. Honestly, it was one of those games that felt like a fever dream. One minute, Gunner Stockton is leading a clinical comeback, and the next, a chaotic sequence of laterals ends with a safety and a season-ending loss.
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Most people expected a slugfest, but the way this game unfolded was just weird.
Ole Miss jumped out early. Kicker Lucas Carneiro was basically a cheat code, hitting field goals from 55 and 56 yards in the first quarter alone. Georgia looked sluggish until the second quarter when the offense finally woke up. Gunner Stockton found his rhythm, and the Bulldogs actually went into the locker room at halftime feeling great with a 21-12 lead.
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Then the third quarter happened.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss—a Division II transfer who played like a Heisman finalist—started making plays out of nothing. Georgia’s defense, which had been so stout during their SEC Championship win over Alabama just weeks prior, couldn't get off the field. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Rebels had surged to a 34-24 lead.
A Comeback That Almost Was
Georgia didn't quit. They never do under Kirby Smart.
- The Zachariah Branch Spark: Stockton hit Zachariah Branch for an 18-yard touchdown to cut the lead.
- The Defensive Stand: The Dawgs forced a punt (after a controversial non-call on a facemask, if you ask any Georgia fan).
- The Equalizer: Peyton Woodring hammered home a 24-yard field goal to tie the game at 34-34 with only 55 seconds left on the clock.
Everyone in the stadium thought we were headed for overtime. But 55 seconds is an eternity in the modern CFP.
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Chambliss carved up the secondary, moving the ball 45 yards in just a few plays. With six seconds left, Carneiro—who had already been the MVP for the Rebels—nailed a 47-yarder.
Then came the "What just happened?" moment. Georgia tried a desperation lateral play on the kickoff. The ball hit the pylon. Safety. Two points for Ole Miss. Final score: 39-34.
Georgia’s 2025 Season at a Glance
It’s easy to let one loss sour a season, but the georgia football score from the Sugar Bowl shouldn't overshadow a 12-2 year. The Bulldogs were the SEC Champions. They beat Alabama 28-7 in Atlanta to take that crown. They beat Texas. They beat Tennessee in an overtime thriller.
| Game Type | Record | Key Win |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 11-1 | 35-10 vs. Texas |
| SEC Championship | 1-0 | 28-7 vs. Alabama |
| CFP Postseason | 0-1 | N/A |
The only regular-season blemish was a three-point loss to Alabama in September, which they later avenged. This team was good. Really good. But the expanded playoff format is a gauntlet, and Ole Miss caught lightning in a bottle.
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Why the Sugar Bowl Result Matters for 2026
Losing the way they did—on a last-second field goal and a pylon safety—is the kind of thing that stays in a locker room. Kirby Smart has already started the "revenge tour" narrative for the 2026 season.
One big takeaway is the quarterback situation. Gunner Stockton proved he can lead this team under pressure, throwing for 219 yards and accounted for multiple scores in the Sugar Bowl. With the transfer portal already humming (like the recent commitment of Oklahoma DB Gentry Williams), the roster is reloading.
Moving Forward: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking the georgia football score to stay ahead of the curve for next season, here is what you need to do:
- Watch the Trench Depth: Georgia struggled to contain the Rebels' pass rush in the fourth quarter. Keep an eye on the offensive line recruiting over the spring.
- Monitor the Secondary: Trinidad Chambliss exposed some gaps in the deep middle. Expect Kirby Smart to prioritize safety depth in the portal.
- Check the 2026 Schedule: The path back to the playoffs is already set, and the Bulldogs are currently projected as a top-4 preseason favorite despite the New Year's Day loss.
The 2025-26 season ended in the humidity of New Orleans, but the work for the next georgia football score began the moment that ball hit the pylon.