OXFORD, Miss. Georgia found an answer to Trinidad Chambliss on Saturday night, stifling the Ole Miss quarterback in a 42-7 victory at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The second-ranked Bulldogs also gained an opportunity to move atop the College Football Playoff rankings after No. 1 Miami fell 31-24 at No. 11 Notre Dame. The committee releases its next rankings Tuesday.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart said his team changed its practice approach during the week, though he declined to explain the adjustments. The preparation produced an immediate advantage against the No. 10 Rebels. Georgia scored touchdowns on its opening three possessions to lead 21-0, then extended the margin to 28-0 on Gunner Stockton's 15-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter.
Chambliss had accounted for five touchdowns across two meetings with Georgia last season, including a 362-yard, two-touchdown passing performance in Ole Miss' 39-34 victory in the CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This time, he 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 than in last season's meetings, using blitzes and pressure to disrupt Chambliss. Georgia sacked him four times, forced an interception under pressure and recovered a fumble after safety Rasean Dinkins hit him from behind. Backup Deuce Knight replaced Chambliss with roughly nine minutes remaining. Safety KJ Bolden credited a coordinated rush that kept the quarterback inside the pocket and limited his opportunities to scramble.
Georgia's offensive line helped establish control from the first snap, when Nate Frazier broke free for a 46-yard run. The Bulldogs finished with 295 rushing yards, converted seven of 12 third downs and possessed the ball for nearly 35 minutes. Stockton passed for four touchdowns, three of them to sophomore Talyn Taylor, in addition to his rushing score. Smart said the running game created opportunities for play-action passes and allowed Stockton to attack downfield.
Frustration spilled into the stands during the second quarter, prompting officials to briefly halt play after spectators threw bottles and other objects onto the field. A roughing the passer call against Ole Miss had erased an interception. Defensive back Jaylon Braxton was subsequently penalized for pass interference on a deep throw to Craig Dandridge, allowing another Georgia touchdown drive to continue.
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding disputed the roughing penalty assessed for defensive end Jordan Renaud's hit on Stockton. Golding said he considered the hit and its timing legal and wanted to hear the SEC's explanation. He suggested officials might have viewed the contact as driving Stockton into the ground with a shoulder.
The Rebels' third defeat complicates their hopes of returning to the CFP after reaching last season's semifinals. Wins over Louisville, Missouri and LSU support their case, but their remaining schedule offers limited chances to strengthen it: Oklahoma, FCS opponent Wofford and struggling Mississippi State. Golding said the team's priority must be correcting its mistakes and preparing for Oklahoma rather than speculating about the committee's judgment.
Georgia still has two SEC games against teams ranked by the committee last week. The Bulldogs host No. 18 Missouri and visit No. 21 South Carolina before finishing the regular season against rival Georgia Tech. Smart acknowledged the significance of winning in a difficult venue against a quarterback he respects while emphasizing the challenges ahead.
