If there was any concern that the College Football Playoffs weren’t delivering up to Thursday night, leave it to Georgia and Ole Miss to give out a classic of a game and shake up this entire bracket. Going into the game, most believed Georgia was heading into the Cotton Bowl playing its best football of the year, using the first-round bye to rest after a dominant SEC Championship victory over Alabama. Trinidad Chambliss had different plans for the Dawgs on Thursday night.
Ole Miss Advances to CFP Semifinals
Trinidad Chambliss is the story of the Playoffs
A former DII quarterback, who won a National Championship at Ferris State, who transfers to Ole Miss and starts the year as a backup, is now the star of the playoffs. Trinidad Chambliss couldn’t miss on Thursday night, making all the throws a star QB makes in high-leverage moments, throws on the run, back-shoulder fades, and strikes down the middle of the field. He was in a zone that very few quarterbacks in College Football can enter.
Chambliss wasn’t sacked one time despite Georgia doing a pretty good job of bringing pressure. Chambliss was running for his life at times, but in doing so, he created some of the most spectacular plays in the history of the College Football playoffs. The ability to make plays while scrambling drew comparisons to Kyler Murray and Johnny Manziel.
After the game, Trinidad Chambliss’s performance was touted as one of the “best quarterback performances that has been seen since the college football playoff has been in existence” by former Florida QB Tim Tebow during the SEC Network’s postgame show. Chambliss finished the night completing 30-46 passes, throwing for 362 yards and two touchdowns, a performance that will be talked about for years to come.
Georgia loses again after the first-round bye
Another first-round bye earned by the Georgia Bulldogs in the CFP, another quarterfinal loss. Georgia is now 0-2 in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Over two years of this format, only one team that earned a bye has won its quarterfinal game: Indiana, which demolished Alabama in the Rose Bowl.
Although it came in a loss, there was a lot to like out of the Bulldogs performance; they created a defensive touchdown on a scoop-and-score, QB Gunner Stockton was outstanding in his own right, his box score of 203 passing yards and one touchdown may not seem special, but he made timely plays and elite throws when needed, including a few throws where he took some serious shots while making them.
Kirby Smart indicated that the Ole Miss defense was the difference in this game, saying, “A lot of credit goes to Ole Miss, the defensive improvements they made. They played much better and tougher and more physical on defense, created some problems for us.” Smarts right here, the defensive improvements from Ole Miss made a massive difference in this game compared to their first meeting in Athens, where Georgia didn’t punt once.
Where Lane Kiffin fits into this playoff run
While Lane Kiffin hasn’t impacted this playoff run at all due to his exit of Ole Miss for the LSU head coaching job, the impact he could have for the Rebel’s next game is massive, as there’s questions of which Ole Miss assistants will actually be there for the Fiesta Bowl against Miami, and which will exit the Rebels playoff run and head to Baton Rouge to focus on portal recruiting.
Charlie Weis Jr is expected to call the offense once again for at least this upcoming game against Miami. Outside of him, it looks like most of the other coaches will remain in Baton Rouge to help recruit from the transfer portal. Coaches who are expected to leave the Rebels’ playoff run are running backs coach Kevin Smith, tight ends coach Joe Cox, and receivers coach George McDonald.
While losing position coaches isn’t ideal, it is crucial for Ole Miss that Charlie Weis Jr. is in the booth calling the offense. Weis Jr delivered an excellent game against the Bulldogs in their playoff quarterfinal. Against a tough, violent defense in Miami, the offensive identity must remain consistent for this Rebels team.
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