Amid the fallout between former head coach Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, the Rebels rallied to defeat the Tulane Green Wave in the first round of the College Football Playoff, setting up an SEC showdown with the Georgia Bulldogs in the second round.
Georgia defeated Alabama in the SEC Championship Game to earn a first-round bye, giving the Bulldogs valuable rest and time to prepare for their eventual opponent, which turned out to be Ole Miss. Both schools enter this matchup with just one conference loss. Ole Miss’s lone defeat this season came against Georgia. The question now is whether the Rebels can exact revenge in the College Football Playoff.
How To Watch Ole Miss vs. Georgia?
- Date: Jan 1, 2026
- Game time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location:Â Caesars Superdome | New Orleans, LA
- TV: ESPN, YouTube TV, Sling TV
Ole Miss vs. Georgia Head-to-Head Record
Few matchups in this year’s College Football Playoff feature a more lopsided history than Ole Miss vs. Georgia. Dating back to 1940, the Bulldogs have won 31 meetings, while the Rebels have claimed 14 victories, with one tie in 1941. Their most recent matchup, played in October, resulted in a 43-35 Georgia win, adding extra motivation for Ole Miss as it seeks revenge in the Sugar Bowl.
Ole Miss vs. Georgia Grades
- Ole Miss (85.3, B)
- Georgia (84.5, B)
- Ole Miss (82.4, B-)
- Georgia (83.7, B)
- Ole Miss (84.4, B)
- Georgia (85.2, B)
- Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (90.3, A-)
- Gunner Stockton, Georgia (88, B+)
- Kewan Lacy, Ole Miss (90.2, A-)
- Nate Frazier, Georgia (81.5, B-)
- Harrison Wallace III, Ole Miss (78.9, C+)
- Zachariah Branch, Georgia (85.6, B)
- Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss (80.6, B-)
- Oscar Delp, Georgia (78.5, C+)
- Princewill Umanmielen, Ole Miss (77.9, C+)
- Gabe Harris Jr., Georgia (71.6, C-)
- Will Echoles, Ole Miss (82.7, B-)
- Christen Miller, Georgia (75.9, C)
- TJ Dottery, Ole Miss (74.4, C)
- CJ Allen, Georgia (81.7, B-)
- Antonio Kite, Ole Miss (77.8, C+)
- Daylen Everette, Georgia (81.3, B-)
- Wydett Williams Jr., Ole Miss (92.5, A-)
- KJ Bolden, Georgia (88.9, B+)
Ole Miss vs. Georgia Prediction
Georgia has proven to be a playoff powerhouse throughout the 2020s, and there is little reason to expect a different outcome against Ole Miss. Pete Goulding and the Rebels should be well-prepared, and this contest is unlikely to turn into a blowout.
However, facing one of the sport’s top coaches in Kirby Smart may be a step too far for Ole Miss at this stage. The Bulldogs have already won two national championships under Smart during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, with fans now hoping he and QB Gunnar Stockton can lead Georgia to a third title within the last six seasons.
Stockton and Georgia’s offensive front will be tested by an Ole Miss defense led by Will Echoles and Princewill Umanmielen. The Bulldogs will need to establish their playmakers early to counter the Rebels’ defensive strength.
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As for Ole Miss, its offense is on the verge of taking a huge hit if starting running back Kewan Lacy is unable to play. Lacy, who injured his shoulder against Tulane in the first round, is currently ranked No. 7 in the PFSN Offensive Impact grades for running backs, playing a critical role in the Rebels’ offensive efficiency.
This leaves a slightly larger burden on the shoulders of Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, who is likely to embrace the challenge in a win-or-go-home scenario. Georgia’s secondary is stacked with players who can make the pass game difficult for Chambliss, which is why establishing the run will need to be a key for Ole Miss at the start of the game.
Given Georgia’s sustained dominance this decade, the Bulldogs enter this matchup with the edge. If Georgia can shut down the Ole Miss run game early and force the Rebels to chase points, the contest could unfold exactly as Kirby Smart prefers.
Prediction: Georgia 27, Ole Miss 13
