Georgia holds Chambliss to 170 yards in 42-7 rout of Ole Miss

Georgia football found a way to stop Trinidad Chambliss on Saturday night, defeating the No. 10 Ole Miss Rebels 42-7 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The victory gave the second-ranked Bulldogs a chance to take the number one position in the College Football Playoff rankings after No. 1 Miami lost 31-24 to No. 11 Notre Dame. The selection committee will release its next rankings on Tuesday.

Coach Kirby Smart said his team altered its practice routine during the week but did not detail the specific changes. The preparation paid off immediately as Georgia scored on its first three possessions to build a 21-0 lead. Gunner Stockton extended the margin to 28-0 with a 15-yard rushing touchdown late in the second quarter.

Chambliss had thrown for five total touchdowns in their two meetings last season, including a 362-yard performance in the CFP quarterfinal loss at the Sugar Bowl. On Saturday, the Ole Miss signal-thrower completed 18 of 34 passes for 170 yards. His streak of games with a touchdown pass ended at 21.

Defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann called a more aggressive game plan than in previous matchups, utilizing blitzes to pressure the quarterback. Georgia recorded four sacks, forced an interception, and recovered a fumble after safety Rasean Dinkins hit Chambliss from behind. Backup quarterback Deuce Knight entered the game with about nine minutes left on the clock. Safety KJ Bolden noted that the coordinated rush kept Chambliss inside the pocket and limited his ability to scramble.

The offensive line established control early when Nate Frazier ran for 46 yards. The Bulldogs finished with 295 rushing yards and converted seven of 12 third downs. They possessed the ball for nearly 35 minutes. Stockton added four passing touchdowns, three of which went to sophomore Talyn Taylor, along with his rushing score. Smart said the running game created space for play-action passes that allowed Stockton to attack downfield.

Frustration among the home crowd led to a brief stoppage in the second quarter as spectators threw bottles onto the field. Officials erased an interception call due to a roughing the passer penalty on Ole Miss. Later, defensive back Jaylon Braxton was called for pass interference on a deep throw to Craig Dandridge, allowing another Georgia scoring drive to continue.

Ole Miss coach Pete Golding disputed the roughing penalty on defensive end Jordan Renaud. Golding said the hit was legal and wanted to hear the SEC's explanation, suggesting officials may have viewed the contact as driving Stockton into the ground. The Rebels' third loss complicates their CFP hopes after reaching the semifinals last year. Their remaining schedule includes Oklahoma, Wofford, and Mississippi State. Golding said the team will focus on correcting mistakes rather than speculating about the committee's decision.

Georgia still plays two ranked opponents before the regular season ends. The Bulldogs host No. 18 Missouri and visit No. 21 South Carolina before facing Georgia Tech. Smart acknowledged the difficulty of winning in Oxford against a quarterback he respects while noting the challenges ahead.