The Ole Miss Rebels and Georgia Bulldogs took the field on Saturday afternoon for one of the most highly-anticipated college football games this weekend. It’s a matchup that more than lived up to the hype, with a remarkable fourth-quarter rally capping off an incredible back-and-forth game.
Let’s dive into the winners and losers from the Bulldogs’ 43-35 victory over the Rebels, with Gunner Stockton leading a 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter to deliver a huge win for Georgia.
Winner: Gunner Stockton Shows He Can Carry Georgia
Georgia needed the absolute best from Gunner Stockton on Saturday afternoon at home. He went above and beyond that. Stockton had some clutch moments in the 44-41 win over Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, but we saw consistency greatness against Ole Miss. He delivered his best passing performance of the season, with many of his best throws coming in a phenomenal fourth-quarter performance. Naturally, Stockton was just as great when he needed to be with his legs. What has to make this game even sweeter for Georgia’s fan base is comparing the five-touchdown performance to Carson Beck’s four-interception game on Friday. The Bulldogs have the right quarterback leading this national championship contender.
Gunner Stockton stats vs Ole Miss (ESPN): 26-of-31, 289 pass yards, 9.3 ypa, 4-0 TD-INT, 59 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown
Loser: Glenn Schumann’s Georgia Bulldogs’ Pass Defense
It’s now reached a concerning level of bad for this Bulldogs’ pass defense. Georgia, which allowed 371 passing yards and 4 touchdowns to Tennessee, was bailed out by a missed game-winning field goal. It then allowed 276 passing yards, 3 total touchdowns, and an 89.6 ESPN QBR to Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. A bit of pressure came off Bulldogs defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann because of how this unit performed versus Auburn, but that game really said a lot more about the Tigers’ offensive line and quarterback play.
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Saturday, we saw the same ineffective Bulldogs’ defense that was on full display versus Tennessee and Alabama. Ole Miss was able to beat Georgia both with methodical drives and explosive plays, all without getting anything going on the ground. Maybe this problem doesn’t cost the Bulldogs again in the regular season, but it will absolutely bite them in the College Football Playoff.
Winner: Lane Kiffin’s Confidence in Trinidad Chambliss
Ole Miss fans had been calling for a few weeks for Trinidad Chambliss to be named the starter over Austin Simmons. However, college football coaches have a tendency to stick with their starting quarterback early. Lane Kiffin was willing to make the change, with Chambliss’ three-game stretch following Simmons’ injury taking the Rebels’ offense to another level. Kiffin named Chambliss the starting quarterback for the LSU game, making the change official. It’s a decision that proved to be the difference-maker versus LSU and crucial for Saturday’s game against Georgia. Kiffin made the decision that not every Power 4 coach would be willing to make that early in the season, and Chambliss has rewarded him for the confidence. Unfortunately, the Rebels’ defense stood in the way of a win for Ole Miss.
Loser: Kewan Lacy, Rebels’ Run Game has Another Dug
There’s become an all-too-familiar theme for Kewan Lacy and this Mississippi rushing attack this season. In some big games, the star running back has had some of his worst performances. He combined to average just 66.3 rushing yards per game against Arkansas, Tulane, and LSU with an ugly 3.43 yards-per-carry average. Just like in those matchups, touchdowns (two) were the only bright spot for Lacy versus Georgia. Of his 31 rushing yards on Saturday, 12 came on the final drive when the Bulldogs were playing a prevent defense. Take that one touch away, and he finishes with a 1.73 yards-per-carry average.
Winner: Peyton Woodring Delivers for the Bulldogs
Sometimes, the kicker gets to be the unsung hero in college football. Most of the highlights from Saturday’s game will spotlight Gunner Stockton, Nate Frazier, Chauncey Bowens, and Zachariah Branch—deservedly so. But the Bulldogs know they don’t win this game without the perfection from Peyton Woodring. He made all seven of his kicks on Saturday, going 3-for-3 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra points. He came through on those rare drives when the Bulldogs’ offense stalled in Rebels’ territory. Georgia’s kicker deserves some love and appreciation this week.
