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Ole Miss had to delay celebrations for its 39-34 win over Georgia several times Thursday night.
After a go-ahead field goal with six seconds remaining, Ole Miss was given a safety on its final kickoff when the Georgia return attempted a cross kick that hit the pylon. Players and coaches began running onto the field in celebration before they were forced to return to the sideline as officials. Georgia demanded start one second before the end.
Georgia then recovered an offside kick by falling on the ball and saving the final second. Ole Miss players and coaches began celebrating again, believing the game was over.
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Kevan Lacy #5 of the Ole Miss Rebels is chased by KJ Bolden #4 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Greiten/Getty Images)
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding even doused himself in Gatorade in the bathtub. However, officials again called for a last-second play, and stadium staff even began pushing the winner's stage onto the field before having to move it back to make room for the final play.
Georgia had another play in which they converted numerous onside kicks before the play fizzled tens of seconds later before Ole Miss could finally celebrate their CFP win.
The win sent Ole Miss (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) to semi-final against Miami at the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday.
Coming on the heels of two lopsided CFP quarterfinals in the Orange and Rose, the Sugar Bowl provided drama until the very end.
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Pete Golding's Mississippi Rebels players doused a cooler of Gatorade after playing against the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2025 Sugar Bowl and College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at Caesars Superdome. (Jeff Burke/Imagn Images)
After a 21-12 halftime lead turned into a 34-24 deficit with 9:02 left, Georgia (12-2, CFP No. 3 seed) rallied to tie the game, first with Gunner Stockton's 18-yard pass to Zachariah Branch before Peyton Woodring's short field goal tied the game with 55 seconds left in regulation.
Ole Miss defensive back Trinidad Chambliss responded by setting up the game-winning drive with a 40-yard pass to De'Zaun Stribling on third down from the Mississippi 30-yard line. A few plays later, kicker Lucas Carneiro, who had already broken Sugar Bowl records with field goals of 55 and 56 yards, kicked in from the 47 and raced triumphantly toward the Ole Miss sideline as the Rebels swarmed around him in jubilation.
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Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels makes a pass while under pressure from Elijah Griffin #90 of the Georgia Bulldogs during the first quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff quarterfinals at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 1, 2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Chris Greiten/Getty Images)
Harrison Wallace III caught nine passes for 156 yards and one touchdown, Stribling finished with seven catches for 122 yards, Kevan Lacy rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns and the Rebels outgained the Bulldogs 473 yards to 343.
Stockton passed for 203 yards and one touchdown and scored two scores.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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