Ole Miss Wins Sugar Bowl, Advances to Fiesta Bowl

NEW ORLEANS – Trinidad Chambliss threw for 362 yards and two touchdowns, and Lucas Carneiro kicked a 47-yard field goal wiht 6 seconds remaining to give No. 6 Mississippi a 39-34 victory over No. 3 Georgia in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl on Thursday night.

In a strange turn of events, Ole Miss was awarded a safety on the final kickoff when Georgia’s return team attempted a cross-field lateral that touched the pylon.

Georgia then recovered an onside kick and tried several laterals, but the play ended without success, sending Ole Miss (13-1, CFP No. 6 seed) to a semifinal matchup against Miami in the Fiesta Bowl next Thursday.

Following two one-sided CFP quarterfinals at the Orange and Rose Bowls,the Sugar Bowl delivered excitement until the very end.

After watching a 21-12 halftime lead turn into a 34-24 deficit with 9:02 left to play, Georgia (12-2, CFP No. 3 seed) fought back to tie the game. Gunner Stockton threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Zachariah Branch, and Peyton Woodring’s short field goal tied it with 55 seconds remaining in regulation.

Chambliss responded by setting up the winning kick with a 40-yard pass to De’Zhaun stribling on third down from Mississippi’s own 30-yard line. Carneiro, who had already set Sugar Bowl records with field goals of 55 and 56 yards, then made the game-winning kick from 47 yards.