Thu Jan 01 23:20:00 UTC 2026: ## Dawgs Face Rebels in Sugar Bowl, Look to Break Playoff Bye Curse
New Orleans, LA – The Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) are set to clash with the Ole Miss Rebels (12-1) tonight at 8 p.m. EST in the Sugar Bowl, marking their return to the field after a 26-day layoff. As they celebrate New Year’s, the Dawgs are hoping to avoid what some have termed the “playoff bye curse” – a trend that sees teams receiving a first-round bye struggling in the expanded College Football Playoff format.
The extended break has allowed key players like wide receiver Colbie Young and tight end Ethan Barbour to recover from injuries, boosting the Bulldog’s offensive firepower. However, the recent Cotton Bowl result, where Miami defeated Ohio State, has raised concerns about rust and momentum loss.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton, who has shown significant growth this season, emphasized the team’s focus on treating this game as a fresh start. “It’s a whole separate season because it’s a one-game season now,” he stated at the Sugar Bowl media day. Stockton previously lead the team to victory over Ole Miss earlier this season with a 43-35 win but is determined that “You can’t transfer a win or anything like that, so it’s a whole separate game”
Head coach Kirby Smart echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of running and stopping the run. Smart praised his team’s youthful energy and willingness to be coached hard, highlighting their improved physical toughness and dominance in those key areas. This is a sharp contrast to last season’s postseason run, when they faced a 23-10 loss to Notre Dame.
While the Georgia defense gave up 35 points in their first match against Ole Miss, they’ve since tightened up, not allowing any team to score more than 21 points. A key factor in their defensive improvement is the emergence of freshman linebacker Zayden Walker, whose development has allowed defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann to expand the defensive playbook.
Smart is confident that his team is better prepared for this year’s Sugar Bowl, aiming to overcome the bye week hurdle and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Did you know? This will be Georgia’s first Sugar Bowl appearance against another SEC team.
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