Kirby Smart Takes Blame for Costly 4th-Down Blunder as Georgia Falls 39-34 to Ole Miss in Sugar Bowl Thriller
NEW ORLEANS — In a heart-stopping College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl, No. 6 Ole Miss edged out No. 3 Georgia 39-34, advancing to the Fiesta Bowl semifinals after a game defined by bold gambles, stunning turnovers, and a coaching misfire that Georgia’s Kirby Smart owned up to immediately after the loss.[1][2]
The defeat ends Georgia’s season on a bitter note, with Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart lamenting a botched fourth-down attempt late in the game that handed Ole Miss prime scoring position. Facing fourth-and-2 at their own 33-yard line with 11:29 remaining and trailing 27-24, Georgia initially sent out its punt team. But an Ole Miss defender going down created an injury stoppage, prompting Smart to bring the offense back on the field for a potential offsides trap or delay-of-game punt.[1]
“We had a misfire there,” Smart said postgame. “The ball was not supposed to be snapped in that situation. That’s on us as coaches.”[1]
Instead, quarterback Gunner Stockton received an unexpected snap, and Ole Miss linebacker Suntarine Perkins burst unblocked off the edge for an 8-yard sack, giving the Rebels the ball at the Georgia 23. Two plays later, Ole Miss capitalized with a touchdown, stretching their lead to 34-24 with 9:05 to play.[1][3]
A Tale of Two Fourth-Down Calls
Smart’s aggressive play-calling was a recurring theme, producing mixed results. Earlier in the third quarter, on fourth-and-5 (or fourth-and-6 from varying reports) at their own 27-30 yard line, Georgia pulled off a flawless fake punt. Freshman wide receiver Landon Roldan took a reverse handoff and lobbed a 16-17 yard pass to tight end Lawson Luckie for the first down, sustaining a drive that ended in Peyton Woodring’s 37-yard field goal, pushing Georgia’s lead to 24-19.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
“On the whole, Smart said, the well-executed fake punt and the botched fourth-down play evened out,” but the late miscue proved more damaging.[1]
Georgia showed resilience, rallying to tie the game at 34-34 with under a minute left on a fourth-and-9 conversion near midfield, where Stockton hit Zachariah Branch for 16 yards to set up the tying field goal.[1][5] However, Ole Miss wide receiver Trinidad Chambliss struck back with a crucial 40-yard completion, setting up the game-winning field goal as time expired.[1]
High-Scoring Affair and Defensive Struggles
The game was a offensive showcase, with Ole Miss amassing 473 yards — Georgia’s second-most allowed all season — while the Bulldogs’ defense faltered in key moments.[1] Georgia led 21-12 at halftime after a 46-47 yard fumble return touchdown by cornerback Daylen Everette off a strip by freshman defensive lineman Elijah Griffin on Ole Miss running back Kewan Lacy. It marked Georgia’s first fumble return score since 2024.[3][4][6]
Ole Miss quarterback — highlighted by Chambliss’s heroics — methodically dismantled Georgia’s secondary. Stockton, stepping up for the Bulldogs, engineered comebacks with key runs and throws, including a third-and-13 strike to Branch for 15 yards and a sidearm escape to running back Cash Jones for 26 yards en route to a first-half touchdown.[4]
| Team | Score | Total Yards | Turnovers | 4th-Down Conv. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 34 | Not specified | 0 | 2/3 (fake punt success, late conv., 33-yd failure) |
| Ole Miss | 39 | 473 (vs. GA def.) | 1 | Failed 4th-and-1 |
Playoff Intensity Shines Through
Smart praised the playoff format postgame: “That’s what the [playoff] was built for, to have games like that.”[1] Ole Miss advances to face the winner of the next quarterfinal, while Georgia exits after a season of promise marred by this narrow defeat.
The Rebels’ victory was powered by timely defensive stands, including Will Echoles disrupting plays, and offensive balance that outlasted Georgia’s late surge.[6]
Looking Ahead
For Georgia, the focus shifts to offseason reflection, with Smart’s accountability setting a tone for corrections. Ole Miss, meanwhile, rides momentum into the semifinals, proving underdogs can thrive in the expanded playoff era.
This Sugar Bowl clash will be remembered for its gambles — one that paid dividends, another that cost a season.