Georgia outlasts Ole Miss in wild shootout to stay alive in SEC race as Gunner Stockton throws four TDs

Live updates, highlights and analysis as Georgia and Ole Miss battle in an SEC showdown

Though Georgia's defense got tossed around for a majority of its Week 8 game against Ole Miss, the Bulldogs buckled down and made the stops they had to to secure a 35-33 win against the Rebels. After surrendering a touchdown on each of Ole Miss' first five drives, the Bulldogs did not let Ole Miss score in the fourth quarter. 

In fact, before its final possession of the evening, Ole Miss had just one yard in the final frame of action. Georgia's stops included two consecutive three-and-outs that allowed the offense to take its first lead since four minutes into the first quarter and, eventually, extend that lead with a 42-yard field goal from kicker Peyton Woodring. 

While the defense clamped down, Georgia's offense kept humming along. The Bulldogs outgained Ole Miss 144 yards to 13 in the fourth quarter with a balanced attack that saw them rush for 72 yards while draining the clock. 

Quarterback Gunner Stockton put together one of the best performances of his career. He took care of the football and kept his offense moving while throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went to tight end Lawson Luckie. 

With the win, Georgia jumps right back into the thick of the SEC Championship Game race. Ole Miss, meanwhile, takes a step back as it is knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten. Texas A&M is the only remaining undefeated team in the conference. 

The Rebels still have a chance to make it to Atlanta at year's end, but they have less control over their own destiny now. 

• This is Georgia's fifth win under coach Kirby Smart when trailing by two-plus possessions in the fourth quarter. 
• Georgia outscored Ole Miss 17-0 in the fourth quarter as it erased a nine-point deficit. 
• Ole Miss had three possessions in the fourth quarter. It did not cross the 50-yard line once. 

Scroll down below to check out, highlights and analysis as Georgia knocks off Ole Miss in a wild shootout. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 7:25 pm ET · Will Backus]

With a win, Ole Miss would have taken a commanding lead in the SEC Championship Race and it would have been a virtual shoe-in for a 12-team College Football Playoff. Now, the Rebels have no margin for error if they want to make it to Atlanta. 

Fortunately for Ole Miss, its path is very manageable. The Rebels have to travel to No. 14 Oklahoma in Week 9, but that's their last game against a currently ranked opponent. Three of their last four games of the season come at home and their last contest before the postseason begins will be to play at Mississippi State. 

Ole Miss has lost to the Bulldogs just once since 2019. Georgia, Alabama and Texas A&M all have a leg up on Ole Miss when it comes to the SEC race -- as of right now, at least -- but one loss for any of those teams could change Ole Miss' fortunes. 

Saturday's loss is disappointing, especially given how it went down, but it's far from the end of the road for this Ole Miss team. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 7:21 pm ET · Will Backus]

Saturday's game followed a similar script for Georgia. The Bulldogs fell behind in the first half, got into an even worse hole entering the fourth quarter and then finally figured things out with their backs against the wall. While that approach is bad for a fan's health, coaches will take all the wins they can get in the SEC, no matter how they come. 

Plus, that resilience will pay off for Georgia as the season wears on. The Bulldogs have now trailed at halftime in four of their five conference games. They improved to 3-1 in those games with the win against Ole Miss. 

They're also outscoring opponents 82-38 over the final two quarters. The win against Ole Miss wasn't a case of immediate halftime adjustments paying dividends, though. It took Georgia a while to assert its will, as Ole Miss was able to maintain its lead through the third quarter. 

Whatever it may look like, Georgia is still finding wins. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 7:10 pm ET · Will Backus]

No program recruits the tight end position better than Georgia does. The Bulldogs collect blue-chip prospects like Infinity Stones at that position. So it tracks that, when Georgia dedicates its offensive gameplan to getting the ball in the hands of those talented tight ends. 

Case in point: Lawson Luckie. Luckie, a junior who graded out as the No. 2 tight end in the class of 2023, entered Saturday's game with five receptions on the year. He had three touchdown catches against Ole Miss alone, which came just one short of matching his career total of four touchdowns receiving. 

Luckie was a consistent mismatch against Ole Miss' linebackers and defensive backs. On the fourth-quarter touchdown that gave Georgia a late 40-35 lead, Luckie used his 240-pound frame to box out an Ole Miss defender and secure the decisive catch. 

Oscar Delp, Georgia's top tight end, also had four catches for 42 yards. Georgia has a very talented receiving corps, but the Bulldogs would do well to continue emphasizing the tight ends in their offensive approach. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 7:01 pm ET · Will Backus]

Final: No. 9 Georgia 43, No. 5 Ole Miss 35 

Though Georgia's defense got tossed around for a majority of its Week 8 game against Ole Miss, the Bulldogs buckled down and made the stops they had to to secure a 00-00 win against the Rebels. After surrendering a touchdown on each of Ole Miss' first five drives, the Bulldogs did not let Ole Miss score in the fourth quarter. 

In fact, before its final possession of the evening, Ole Miss had just one yard in the final frame of action. Georgia's stops included two consecutive three-and-outs that allowed the offense to take its first lead since four minutes into the first quarter and, eventually, extend that lead with a 42-yard field goal from kicker Peyton Woodring. 

While the defense clamped down, Georgia's offense kept humming along. The Bulldogs outgained Ole Miss 144 yards to 13 in the fourth quarter with a balanced attack that saw them rush for 72 yards while draining the clock. 

Quarterback Gunner Stockton had one of the best performances of his career. He took care of the football and kept his offense moving while throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went to tight end Lawson Luckie. 

With the win, Georgia jumps right back into the thick of the SEC Championship Game race. Ole Miss, meanwhile, takes a step back as it is knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten. Texas A&M is the only remaining undefeated team in the conference. 

The Rebels still have a chance to make it to Atlanta at year's end, but they have less control over their own destiny now. 

• This is Georgia's fifth win under coach Kirby Smart when trailing by two-plus possessions in the fourth quarter. 
• Georgia outscored Ole Miss 17-0 in the fourth quarter as it erased a nine-point deficit. 
• Ole Miss had three possessions in the fourth quarter. It did not cross the 50-yard line once. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:58 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 4Q: No. 9 Georgia 43, No. 5 Ole Miss 35 

That will do it from Athens. What should be Ole Miss' final drive got off to a great start with a first-down run from running back Kewan Lacy. From there, though, the Bulldogs slammed the door. Ole Miss tried to go for it on fourth down and quarterback Trinidad Chambliss' pass was batted down at the line. Georgia will be able to kneel it out. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:52 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 4Q: No. 9 Georgia 43, No. 5 Ole Miss 35 

But Ole Miss is still alive. Rebels Andrew Jones deserves a ton of credit for singlehandedly keeping this one within reach for his team. He made a crucial tackle of Georgia running back Nate Frazier on third-and-3. Without Jones' stop, there's a good chance that Frazier scores a touchdown. Instead, the Bulldogs had to settle for a 42-yard field goal from kicker Peyton Woodring. Ole Miss still has a tall hill to climb to extend the game. The Rebels will have the ball with no timeouts on the other side of the 2-minute timeout, and they'll need to hit on a 2-point conversion if they're even able to score a touchdown. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:45 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 4Q: No. 9 Georgia 40, No. 5 Ole Miss 35 

It didn't produce points, but that may have been the biggest throw of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton's career. The Bulldogs, needing to sustain a drive to keep the ball out of Ole Miss' hands, were forced into a second-and-12 when Stockton was tackled for a loss. So on the next play, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo drew up a shot play for Stockton. He delivered with the perfect pass to Dillon Bell, who made a nice 36-yard catch with an Ole Miss defensive back draped all over him. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:39 pm ET · Will Backus]

Mid 4Q: No. 9 Georgia 40, No. 5 Ole Miss 35 

Thirty minutes ago, two consecutive defensive stops seemed inconceivable. Well, Georgia's defense just clamped down for the second time in a row. Not only did the Bulldogs force a punt; they held Ole Miss to another three-and-out. It's starting to get to scary hours for Ole Miss, which has gone ice-cold in the fourth quarter. The Rebels still have all three timeouts, but Georgia has a real chance to bleed some clock with its upcoming drive and a touchdown would all but ice the game. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:32 pm ET · Will Backus]

Mid 4Q: No. 9 Georgia 40, No. 5 Ole Miss 35

Georgia tight end Lawson Luckie now has a hat trick. His third touchdown may be the most important. The junior, who entered Saturday's game with just five catches on the season, did a nice job of boxing an Ole Miss defender out and securing the ball in the end zone as he fell to the ground. Luckie's touchdown also swings momentum all the way to Georgia's side. It was huge for the Bulldogs that they were able to capitalize on the first punt of the game. Now the ball is in Ole Miss' court. The Rebels also have to contend with an electrified Sanford Stadium crowd. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:25 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 4Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 35, No. 9 Georgia 33 

There's the Georgia defense we all know and love. The Bulldogs forced a much-needed three-and-out that led to the first punt of the game, courtesy of Ole Miss' Oscar Bird. Now Georgia has a chance to completely flip momentum by taking its first lead since four minutes into the first quarter. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:20 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 4Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 35, No. 9 Georgia 33

Georgia's offense is still doing its part. The Bulldogs kept their comeback hopes alive near the start of the fourth quarter with a short touchdown connection between quarterback Gunner Stockton and running back Nate Frazier. Fellow running back Josh McCray deserves credit for converting a difficult fourth-and-1 earlier in the drive that allowed Georgia to eventually score its touchdown. McCray was initially met short of the line but he kept his legs driving to grab the first down. 

Now the game is in the hands of Georgia's defense. Let's see if the Bulldogs can have a late return to form to make things even more interesting. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:17 pm ET · Will Backus]

End 3Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 35, No. 9 Georgia 26 

Ole Miss has what could be a pivotal advantage entering the final frame of play. Though all the focus has -- deservedly -- been on both offenses in Saturday's game, it's actually the Rebel defense that has proved the difference thus far. 

Ole Miss forced Georgia to kick a field goal near the end of the second quarter when the Bulldogs were driving into Ole Miss territory. The Rebels then took that momentum and scored a 75-yard touchdown early in the third quarter. 

Then, when Georgia scored a touchdown that could have tied the game at 28-all, Ole Miss' defense slammed the door on Georgia's 2-point conversion. That, alongside the fact that the Rebels have yet to punt, is why they have a two-score advantage as the third quarter ends. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 6:00 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 3Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 35, No. 9 Georgia 26 

For the first time all afternoon, Ole Miss has a two-possession lead. The Rebels forcing a field goal at the end of the first half and stopping Georgia on a 2-point conversion attempt may be crucial, as those moments have allowed the Rebels to jump out to a nine-point advantage. They also have a stellar catch from wide receiver Deuce Alexander to thank for their latest score. That allowed Ole Miss to move the ball into Georgia territory, where quarterback Trinidad Chambliss converted a fourth down with his legs. A few play later, he bullied his way into the end zone for his second touchdown rushing of the game. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 5:53 pm ET · Will Backus]

Mid 3Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 28, No. 9 Georgia 26

Enter Ole Miss' Deuce Alexander into the running for catch of the year. He came up with an absurd one-handed grab in a huge spot for the Rebels. Ole Miss was facing second-and-15 from its own 30-yard line. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss dropped back to pass and delivered a ball down the sideline to Deuce Alexander, who was interfered with as he laid out and made the stunning catch. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 5:46 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 3Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 28, No. 9 Georgia 26 

But the Bulldogs were unable to convert on their 2-point try, so Ole Miss still holds an advantage less than five minutes into the third quarter. It was still good for Georgia to march down the field and answer Ole Miss' quick-strike touchdown with a more methodical drive of its own. Georgia's offensive line took over on that possession, as it made plenty of room in the running game and gave quarterback Gunner Stockton plenty of time to deliver the ball. He had a clean pocket when he connected with tight end Lawson Luckie for a three-yard touchdown. That was Luckie's second touchdown catch of the game, as Georgia is getting its tight ends more involved. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 5:38 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 3Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 28, No. 9 Georgia 20 

Well, it appears as if whatever defense adjustments Georgia decided to make at halftime did not take. The Bulldogs got aggressive on second-and-10 and brought the house on the blitz. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin saw it was coming and called a quick pass adjustment for quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who delivered a short ball to wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling. From there, Stribling raced past Georgia's defense and, with no one deep for the Bulldogs, he was able to run all the way to the end zone for a 75-yard touchdown. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 5:15 pm ET · Will Backus]

Half: No. 5 Ole Miss 21, No. 9 Georgia 20

Since Georgia settled for a 35-yard field goal from kicker Peyton Woodring at the end of the first half, Ole Miss enters halftime with a slight lead in what's proving to be an absolute barn-burner. There's a good chance that both defenses are going to get quite the tongue lashing in the locker room, as neither was able to get a single stop over the first 30 minutes. 

It seems like a win that Ole Miss held Georgia to a field goal to end the second quarter, as that's the closest either defense has come to making a stand. Georgia and Ole Miss combined for 434 total yards of offense, 291 of which came through the air. 

Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is putting together a star-making performance. In one of the toughest starts of his career, he's completed 14 passes for 137 yards and he rushed for a touchdown. Not to be outdone, Georgia's Gunner Stockton has 154 yards and one touchdown through the air and he also scrambled for a 22-yard touchdown of his own. 

This is the third time this season that Georgia has allowed at least 20 points in the first half of a game. The Bulldogs did that three times combined in the previous four seasons. 

Ole Miss starts the second half with the ball and some momentum after holding in the second quarter. The first real stop by either defense may be enough to decide this game. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 4:59 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 2Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 21, No. 9 Georgia 17

Back and forth we go. Six drives into the game and neither defense has managed a stop. Ole Miss has cobbled together some impressive drives thanks to its dominance along the offensive line. The Rebels have now scored touchdowns on drives of 11, 10 and 14 plays. They also got very creative to score their latest touchdown at Georgia's goal line. 

Reserve quarterback Austin Simmons entered the game and lined up in the backfield alongside Kewan Lacy. Starting quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who was lined up at wide receiver on the play, went into motion. As he ran in motion, Ole Miss snapped the ball directly to Lacy, who scored his second touchdown of the afternoon. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 4:46 pm ET · Will Backus]

Mid 2Q: No. 9 Georgia 17, No. 5 Ole Miss 14 

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton saw Trinidad Chambliss' touchdown run and said "I'll do you one better." Facing second-and-8 from Ole Miss' 22-yard line, Stockton faked a handoff to running back Nate Frazier and kept on the option. Ole Miss overcommitted to the run, which allowed Stockton to run past the defense and into the end zone. That's now five scores on five possessions. First team to get a stop may walk out with the win. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 4:37 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 2Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 14, No. 9 Georgia 10 

Under bettors look away. There's a track meet breaking out in Athens. So far we have seen four possessions and four scores between the Ole Miss and Georgia, including three touchdowns. Ole Miss scored the latest courtesy of a one-yard touchdown run from running back Kewan Lacy. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is already up to 105 yards passing. He also has a rushing touchdown as he's flourishing in a tough environment. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 4:22 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 2Q: No. 9 Georgia 10, No. 5 Ole Miss 7

Good things happen when Georgia throws the ball to its tight ends. The Bulldogs struck quickly at the start of the second quarter, as quarterback Gunner Stockton hit tight end Lawson Luckie for a wide-open 11-yard touchdown. Some pre-play motion confused Ole Miss' defense and Luckie ran a nice wheel route to create some space towards the end zone. Ole Miss has had some bad coverage breaks thus far. This was the first one that really hurt the Rebels. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 4:19 pm ET · Will Backus]

End 1Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 7, No. 9 Georgia 3 

But the Bulldogs are driving. They will have the ball in the red zone at Ole Miss' 11-yard line once play resumes in the second quarter. Georgia was aided by a horse collar penalty on Ole Miss, but the Bulldogs are moving the ball well against the Rebel defense. 

Quarterback Gunner Stockton is already up to 74 yards passing on seven completions. The Bulldogs have tried to get wide receiver Zachariah Branch going, as he leads all players with three passes, but he's turned that into just 17 yards thus far. 

Both teams are doing a good job of working the underneath routes and giving their quarterbacks some easy throws to make. It will be interesting to see who takes the first real shot of the afternoon. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 4:08 pm ET · Will Backus]

Late 1Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 7, No. 9 Georgia 3 

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss does not seem phased in one of the biggest starts of his career. He was a smooth operator as he led the Rebels on a 14-play, 65-yard scoring drive on Ole Miss' first possession of the game. He completed six of his nine passes for 48 yards and capped it all off with a 7-yard touchdown scramble. Chambliss accounted for 60 of the 65 yards on that possession by himself. Ole Miss did a great job of scheming some easy pass looks to help him build confidence in a tough road environment, and he was able to lean on his athleticism as he escaped a free rusher on the touchdown scramble. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 4:03 pm ET · Will Backus]

Mid 1Q: No. 9 Georgia 3, No. 5 Ole Miss 0

The injury bug is biting Georgia early. After Bulldog wide receiver Colbie Young went down on his team's first offensive possession, top defensive lineman Christen Miller remained on the turf during Ole Miss' ensuing drive. He appeared to be having an issue with his right shoulder as Georgia's trainers helped him off the field. He's been one of the best defenders in the SEC this season, so his loss would be sorely felt if he has to miss any time. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 3:54 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 1Q: No. 9 Georgia 3, No. 5 Ole Miss 0 

One drive and an early lead for Georgia. The Bulldogs moved the ball into Ole Miss territory thanks to an explosive 36-yard passing connection between Gunner Stockton, who got the ball on a flea flicker, and wide receiver Colbie Young, who was then taken to the locker room with an apparent lower body injury. That's where things stalled for the Bulldogs, though, and they had to settle for a 51-yard field goal from kicker Peyton Woodring. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 3:50 pm ET · Will Backus]

Georgia wide receiver Colbie Young just exited during his team's first drive of the afternoon with an apparent lower leg injury. He was taken to the locker room with the help of Georgia's athletic staff. Young caught a 36-yard pass from quarterback Gunner Stockton off of an early flea flicker call. He then limped off the field after he was tackled from behind by Ole Miss defensive back Chris Graves Jr. Young is Georgia's leading receiver this season with 23 catches for 336 yards and one touchdown. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 3:47 pm ET · Will Backus]

Early 1Q: No. 5 Ole Miss 0, No. 9 Georgia 0 

It will be Georgia's ball first after Ole Miss won the toss and deferred its selection to the second half. It seems important that the Bulldogs get off to a hot start. They've struggled in the first half this season and, though they've often been able to overcome any sluggish openings thus far, they cannot afford to fall behind against this explosive Ole Miss team. It'll also be important to keep a raucous crowd engaged. 

[Oct 18, 2025 at 3:15 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

I don't have a great feel for this one overall. If you want to get really creative based on how trends have worked in Georgia games this year, take Ole Miss in the first half and Georgia in the third quarter. Maybe even parlay it. For a more traditional play, I'd argue taking Georgia and the points. So far in SEC play home teams have gone 14-6-1 against the spread, and Ole Miss has not had much success at Sanford Stadium. Pick: Georgia -7.5

[Oct 18, 2025 at 3:00 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Georgia has played four SEC games this season and has been outscored in the first half of those games 62-55. It trailed Tennessee 21-17 at halftime, it trailed Alabama 24-14, and it was down 10-3 at halftime (and could've been down a lot more). The only team it had a halftime lead against was Kentucky, and, well, Kentucky stinks. Ole Miss does not.

To Georgia's credit, it's done a phenomenal job in the second halves of those games, but there's no reason to believe Ole Miss won't get off to a good start here. Did you watch them against Washington State last week? What is it about that performance that makes you believe the Rebels spent more time worrying about a game plan for the Cougars than they probably spent working on the Dawgs? I don't know if the Rebels will have a halftime lead, nor do I know they'll pull off another upset over Georgia, but they'll hang around through 30 minutes. The Pick: Ole Miss 1st Half +4.5 (-115) via DraftKings

[Oct 18, 2025 at 2:35 pm ET · Tom Fornelli]

Ole Miss has won three straight games against top-10 opponents, which is the second-longest streak in school history (they won four straight in 1969). That includes a win a few weeks ago against then-No. 4 LSU as well as last year's win over then No. 3 Georgia. However, the Rebels are 0-12 lifetime when facing a ranked Georgia team on the road.