Mississippi football closed out the College Football Playoff quarterfinals with a thrilling second-half performance from Trinidad Chambliss and Co. to pick up a shocking 39-34 upset over No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 1 inside Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
The Rebels’ biggest win in program history didn’t happen without some chaos and drama.
Following the go-ahead 47-yard field goal from Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro, the Rebels were awarded a safety after the Bulldogs’ attempt to run a trick play on the ensuing kickoff resulted in a fumble that hit the pylon. The game was originally ruled over, but after an official review, a second was added back onto the clock.
The chaos didn’t end there.
Georgia then successfully converted an 11-yard onside kick from Peyton Woodring. The 11th-hour attempt should have ended the game again. However, because Ole Miss players didn’t touch the ball, and Georgia recovered the ball past the line to gain, that one second on the clock was not removed.
‘If the ball is recovered legally after it goes 10 yards by a grounded player, the clock does not run,’ ESPN rules analyst Matt Austin said on the broadcast. ‘… If you just fall on it, then there is no time off.’
That miscue by Ole Miss provided Georgia with a shot at a Hail Mary play that began with a 4-yard pass from Gunner Stockton to Colbie Young. From there, the Bulldogs threw a few backward passes and laterals in hopes of finding a hole to get down the field. It failed for numerous reasons: Adrian Maddox was eventually tackled and Georgia was called for a block in the back.
The chaotic ending to the Sugar Bowl necessitated the removal of the postgame stage from the field several times, and loud boos, presumably from Rebels fans, were audible over the ESPN broadcast.
Next up for Ole Miss will be a date with Carson Beck and No. 10 Miami in the CFP Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 8 in Arizona.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.