Ole Miss wrote the most significant chapter yet in its storybook season on Thursday as the No. 6 seed Rebels climbed back from a nine-point halftime deficit to upset No. 3 seed Georgia 39-34 in a thrilling cap to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff.
Trinidad Chambliss keyed the charge with a memorable second-half performance. The Rebels quarterback maneuvered Ole Miss into field goal range in the final minute, setting up Lucas Carneiro for a go-ahead 47-yarder that cleared the uprights with six seconds remaining. A safety on the ensuing kickoff provided the final five-point margin.
Chambliss found De’Zhaun Stribling for a 40-yard gain on a third-and-5 play with 32 seconds remaining to establish Ole Miss at the Georgia 30-yard line. Three plays later, Carneiro put the Rebels ahead.
The kick capped a memorable performance for the junior kicker, who established new career-longs with makes from 55 and 56 yards during the first quarter. Ole Miss will advance to play No. 10 seed Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8.
Taking down Georgia avenged the only loss of the season for Ole Miss, which is now 13-1 and 2-0 since the departure of coach Lane Kiffin for LSU. Chambliss finished 30 of 46 passing for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Star running back Kewan Lacy added 98 yards rushing and two scores on the ground.
