No. 16 Ole Miss picked up its greatest win of the Lane Kiffin period and boosted its School Soccer Playoff hopes with a 28-10 victory over then-No. three Georgia on Saturday.
Georgia's comeback hopes ended with 7:22 left when Carson Beck was intercepted on fourth down. The Bulldogs went for fourth-and-10 on the Ole Miss 27-yard line, however Beck's move was tipped earlier than John Saunders Jr. intercepted it and slid extensive to the sector with Georgia gamers closing in on of him.
The Ole Miss offense then sealed the sport as Jaxson Dart stepped up regardless of enjoying a lot of the sport with a left ankle harm. Dart broke off a 28-yard run on the following possession because the Rebels put the sport away with a discipline objective to place Georgia behind on the 15 and out of timeouts with three:22 left.
It's the primary residence win over a workforce ranked within the high two within the AP High 25 in Ole Miss historical past and the primary time Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC) has misplaced to an SEC workforce outdoors of Alabama since a shutout. in Florida in 2020.
Ole Miss followers had been so excited concerning the win that they stormed the court docket a bit too early. College students and followers flooded the court docket with 16 seconds left because the Bulldogs nonetheless had the ball. The tip of the sport needed to be delayed to permit followers to be faraway from the pitch earlier than a last play.
Lastly, followers obtained an opportunity to have a good time on the sector.
The Ole Miss protection dominates
The Rebels (Eight-2, Four-2) had been embarrassed in Athens in 2023. A season in the past, Georgia amassed greater than 600 whole yards and ran for 300 yards in a 52-17 win over to an Ole Miss workforce that was ranked seven. decrease than the No. 9 Bulldogs within the CFP standings.
That recreation was a focus within the offseason for Ole Miss. Lane Kiffin made a degree to bolster his defensive position via the switch window and added gamers like Florida's Princely Umanmielen and Texas A&M's Walter Nolen.
The advance within the offseason was evident. The Rebels entered the sport main the SEC in sacks and added 5 extra to their tally on Saturday. The move rush was constantly in entrance of Beck — particularly on the left facet of Georgia's line — and the Bulldogs couldn't get something happening the sector both.
Lower than a yr in the past, Georgia averaged almost 10 yards per carry on this matchup. On Saturday, the Bulldogs rushed 33 occasions for 59 yards after sacks had been factored in.
The return of Dart
The sport couldn't have began a lot worse for Ole Miss. Dart was dismissed on the second play of the sport as a result of his left leg turned outward when tackled. On third down, Dart had a defender in entrance of him and didn't step on a throw that sailed into the arms of Georgia's Dan Jackson after Dart's arm was hit.
The senior QB limped off the sector and into the locker room as Georgia rapidly took a 7-Zero lead.
Freshman Austin Simmons changed Dart on the second drive of the sport and led Ole Miss to a TD. Dart returned from the locker room and performed the remainder of the sport.
He additionally performed nicely, though he was clearly restricted. Dart ended up being Ole Miss' main rusher and was 13 of 22 passing for 199 yards and a TD to Juice Wells.
How good is Georgia's offense?
A surface-level have a look at Georgia's offensive stats will present an offense that hasn't been dangerous in any respect. The Bulldogs are nonetheless averaging over six yards per play this season and their operating backs have accomplished two-thirds of their passes.
However Georgia's offense has struggled with the SEC's high groups outdoors of an explosive second half towards Alabama. And he was particularly liable to turnovers.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over 4 occasions towards the Crimson Tide and dedicated three turnovers towards Texas. The Bulldogs got here again three extra on Saturday as Beck had a fumble to associate with that interception and operating again Nate Frazier did as nicely.
Beck has did not dwell as much as his preseason Heisman candidacy, and it's clear that Georgia's offense might use an explosive participant or two. There's no Ladd McConkey or Brock Bowers or George Pickens to catch passes, and Frazier and Trevor Etienne haven't replicated the play we've seen from the Bulldogs in current seasons.
However the playoffs are nonetheless within the Bulldogs' sights if Georgia can bounce again with a house win towards no. 7 Tennessee in Week 12.