With the first round of the College Football Playoff wrapped up, we now move on to the quarterfinals. And this year’s quarterfinals shouldn’t disappoint, as we get four intriguing matchups. However, one of those matchups is a rematch from an earlier-season game. The 2026 Sugar Bowl gives us Georgia vs Ole Miss, in the second meeting of the year between the two.
While many would be somewhat disappointed that one of the quarterfinals is a rematch between two schools, the good news is that the first clash between the two was at least a good game. Ole Miss managed to lead most of the way. However, the Bulldogs used a strong fourth quarter to pull away for an eight-point victory in Athens.
Now, with this meeting taking place in New Orleans, who has the advantage in round two between the Rebels and Bulldogs?
2026 Sugar Bowl Preview
How Can Georgia Pull off the Season Sweep Over Ole Miss?
For the Bulldogs, the win over Ole Miss earlier this year seemed to be a turning point. Before that win, they were good, but clearly had significant problems. But since that mid-October meeting, they look like an elite football team. As always seems to be the case with Georgia, their success is going to largely have to begin with their defense. For the season, they’re giving up just under 16 points per game, good for ninth in the country. Their rushing defense has had similar success, giving up less than 80 yards per game on the ground. However, in the first meeting between the two teams, they gave up 35 points, much to Kirby Smart’s dismay.
If there is one concern with the Georgia defense, it’s the secondary. For the year, they rank around 50th in terms of passing yards allowed. And with the Rebel offense typically being efficient through the air, the secondary may be one aspect they try to target.
As for the Georgia offense, it hasn’t changed much over the years. They still want to start by having success on the ground. They then use that to open up the passing attack for Gunner Stockton and his receivers. In their earlier win over the Rebels, they managed to do whatever they wanted to on the offensive side. They weren’t stopped a single time, and threw for 289, while adding 221 on the ground. If they can have similar success, there’s a good chance they manage to pull off the season sweep. However, there’s no doubt Pete Golding and the Rebel defense will have made changes. So it’ll be up to Smart and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to counter those changes to continue to find success on that side of the football.
Keys for Ole Miss to Pull Off an Upset
Ole Miss’s success obviously starts on the offensive side of the ball. They rank 10th nationally in points per game. But more importantly, they sit at third in the country in passing offense, averaging 312 yards per game. Taking on a defense whose weakness is in the secondary, this could prove to be a good matchup for the Rebels. If Trinidad Chambliss can continue to get the ball to guys like Deuce Alexander, Cayden Lee, and Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss should be able to move the ball.
On the ground, things could be a bit more challenging. Despite Kewan Lacy being one of the best running backs in the SEC, Georgia does have the advantage in the trenches. If Charlie Weis Jr can come up with a scheme to limit some of the problems at the line of scrimmage, they may be able to move the ball on the ground. If not, it could end up being an Ole Miss offense that looks one-dimensional.
And most importantly, as mentioned earlier, the Rebel defense has to be better than it was in the first meeting between these two. In that one, they got virtually no pressure on Stockton, and allowed him to escape the pocket in the rare instance he was pressured. They also allowed the Bulldog running backs to run free as a unit, giving up 221 yards rushing, split between five backs. That simply can’t happen if they want to have a chance to advance to the semifinals.
2026 Sugar Bowl Predictions
As was the first time around, expect this one to be close and not to ever really get out of hand. However, this has the feeling of a game that Georgia manages to pull through with a win again. Since they appeared to turn a corner earlier this season, they’ve looked like one of the best teams in the country. And now they’ve had almost a month to prepare for this one. Unless they come out looking rusty from the time off, they should have success at whatever they choose to do.
While this one likely doesn’t end up quite as high scoring as the 43-35 meeting in October, it’s one that Georgia wins again. Smart and the Bulldog defense make enough adjustments to slow down the Ole Miss offense, and the offense scores just enough to sneak by and advance to the semifinals.
Georgia 34, Ole Miss 23
How to Watch Georgia vs Ole Miss
Date: Thursday, January 1; Time: 8:00 pm ET
Location: Ceasars Superdome
TV: ESPN
