So, you’re looking for the final score of the Georgia game? If you’re talking about the most recent high-stakes matchup that had everyone in Athens losing their minds, we have to talk about the New Year’s Night heartbreaker.
The final score of the Georgia game was Ole Miss 39, Georgia 34.
It wasn't just a loss; it was a total rollercoaster in the College Football Playoff (CFP) Quarterfinal at the Caesars Superdome. One minute the Bulldogs looked like they were cruising toward another title run, and the next, everything just... unraveled. Honestly, it was one of those games where you could feel the momentum shifting like a physical weight in the stadium.
What Was the Final Score of the Georgia Game and How Did It Happen?
The Bulldogs went into the 2026 Sugar Bowl as the No. 3 seed, fresh off an SEC Championship win where they absolutely handled Alabama 28-7. They were the favorites. They were the team with the pedigree. But Ole Miss, the No. 6 seed, didn't care about the stats.
The game started out looking like a classic Kirby Smart defensive masterclass. By halftime, Georgia was up 21-12. Everything felt safe. The defense was stifling, and Gunner Stockton was making plays. But if you’ve followed college ball long enough, you know that a nine-point lead against a Pete Golding defense and a Lane Kiffin-influenced offense is basically nothing.
The Second Half Collapse
The wheels started wobbling in the third quarter and completely flew off in the fourth. Ole Miss outscored Georgia 20-10 in the final period alone.
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- Trinidad Chambliss for Ole Miss was basically a surgeon out there. He threw for 376 yards.
- Georgia's run game, usually their bread and butter, got stuffed.
- The Rebels took a 10-point lead late in the game.
You’ve gotta give credit to the Dawgs for the fight, though. They clawed back. Peyton Woodring nailed a 24-yard field goal with only 55 seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 34-34. At that point, everyone in the Superdome was prepping for overtime.
The Six Seconds That Changed Everything
Most people think the game ended with that tie, but the final minute was pure chaos. Ole Miss marched 45 yards in less than a minute. Lucas Carneiro, the Rebels' kicker, stepped up and drilled a 47-yarder with only six seconds remaining.
37-34.
But wait—the score ended 39-34. Why? Because Georgia tried one of those "lateral-until-we-die" plays on the kickoff return. The ball ended up fumbled out of the end zone pylon. By rule, that’s a safety.
Two more points for Ole Miss. Game over. Season over.
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A Look at the 2025-2026 Season Results
If you're looking for a different game because you missed a few weeks, here is how the rest of the season shook out for the Dawgs. They finished 12-2 overall.
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 30 | Marshall | Win | 45-7 |
| Sept 13 | at Tennessee | Win | 44-41 (OT) |
| Sept 27 | Alabama | Loss | 21-24 |
| Oct 18 | Ole Miss (Regular Season) | Win | 43-35 |
| Nov 1 | vs. Florida | Win | 24-20 |
| Nov 15 | Texas | Win | 35-10 |
| Nov 28 | at Georgia Tech | Win | 16-9 |
| Dec 6 | vs. Alabama (SEC Title) | Win | 28-7 |
| Jan 1 | vs. Ole Miss (CFP) | Loss | 34-39 |
It’s kinda wild to see that they actually beat Ole Miss earlier in the year. In October, they put up 43 points on them in Athens. It just goes to show how hard it is to beat a good team twice in the same season, especially when the second time is in the playoffs.
Why This Score Matters for the 2026 Season
The fallout from this 39-34 loss is already hitting the program. Analysts like Christian Kirby have been pointing out that the defense, while talented, struggled to "steal possessions" this year. They weren't forcing the turnovers we're used to seeing from a Kirby Smart-led squad.
KJ Bolden was a bright spot, racking up 10 tackles in the Sugar Bowl, but the overall lack of a "havoc" factor is what let Ole Miss hang around. If you’re a Georgia fan, the focus for the 2026 season is definitely going to be on that defensive secondary and the pass rush.
Basketball Update: The Other Georgia Game
If you aren't looking for football and were actually wondering about the hoops score from earlier this week, it was another heartbreaker against—you guessed it—Ole Miss. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the Georgia men's basketball team lost 97-95 in overtime.
Jeremiah Wilkinson dropped 32 points, which is insane, but Patton Pinkins hit a buzzer-beater tip-in for the Rebels to seal it. It seems like Mississippi is just Georgia's kryptonite this month.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're tracking these scores to keep your sports diary updated or just to argue with your buddies at the bar, here is what you need to remember:
- Football: Georgia finished 12-2, SEC Champs, but lost the CFP Quarterfinal 39-34.
- Key Stat: The safety at the end of the Sugar Bowl is why the margin was five points instead of three.
- Next Steps: Keep an eye on the transfer portal this spring. Coach Smart is likely to hunt for some aggressive defensive backs to fix those turnover issues before the 2026 kickoff.
Check the official Georgia Bulldogs site or the SEC Network app for the upcoming spring game schedule, usually set for mid-April.