Ole Miss picked up arguably its greatest win in program historical past on Thursday night time, when Pete Golding and the Rebels beat Georgia 39-34 right away traditional that might be replayed and revisited in Oxford endlessly. However the ending of the Sugar Bowl wasn’t with out its drama down the ultimate stretch — and we’re not simply speaking about Ole Miss’ livid rally and the 30 factors scored within the fourth quarter between the 2 groups.
Extra particularly: what the heck occurred in these final six seconds?
After Ole Miss kicker Lucas Carneiro — who had the sport of his life with 55 and 56-yard discipline objectives along with the game-winning kick — booted a 47-yard discipline purpose to place Ole Miss up 37-34, the Rebels then kicked off to Georgia with six seconds to play. Georgia receiver Landon Roldan fielded the kick behind the top zone, ran up simply previous the 5-yard line and tried to throw a backwards move throughout the sector. An Ole Miss defender was there to cease two Georgia gamers from catching the ball. The soccer sailed previous them, landed close to the hash and slowly bounced out of bounds. The ball hit the pylon with (what we discovered was) one second left and officers dominated it an Ole Miss security. The Rebels went up 39-34.
With the sport seemingly over, Sugar Bowl officers started to roll each the trophy and the stage out onto the sector whereas Georgia coach Kirby Good and Golding met at midfield for the normal coaches’ handshake. Celebratory confetti fell to the turf. However in the midst of the chaos, referees additionally started to blow their whistle.
They decided that there was nonetheless one second left on the clock. Each groups retreated again to their sidelines.
Due to the security, Georgia needed to line up and kick off from its personal 20-yard line. Bulldogs kicker Peyton Woodring tried a slow-rolling, onside free kick that working again Money Jones finally fell on. In one other complicated flip of occasions, no time ran off the clock. ESPN guidelines analyst Matt Austin defined it this fashion:
“If the ball is recovered legally after it goes 10 yards by a grounded participant, then the clock doesn’t run.”
And here is the *official* ending after a little bit of chaos.
Sean McDonough: “Matt, that is feeling like an excruciating ending to a traditional recreation. Does widespread sense have to prevail right here?”
Matt Austin: “Effectively, sure, however we do have guidelines now we have to observe.” 🏈🦓🎙️ #CFP https://t.co/UZIoeWwxK8 pic.twitter.com/Puh9ym6fsT
— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) January 2, 2026
Ole Miss, once more believing the sport was over, showered Golding in two blue Gatorade baths as he headed to midfield once more to satisfy Good. The stage got here again out. However officers then blew their whistles and decided there was nonetheless a second on the clock.
Georgia lastly ran a failed lateral play that ended with Ole Miss (lastly) formally profitable.
Rely it as one of many weirder endings in Faculty Soccer Playoff historical past in one of many sport’s all-time nice video games.
Ole Miss now advances to the Fiesta Bowl semifinal and can play Miami subsequent week because the Rebels proceed to press on with out former head coach Lane Kiffin.
“It felt superior for our gamers. What they’ve been by within the final month … (I’m) simply actually excited on this second for them,” Golding advised ESPN’s Molly McGrath postgame. “They’re resilient. They’re powerful, they’re aggressive, they love soccer they usually love Insurgent nation.”
