NEW ORLEANS — Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and his teammates have been saying for weeks that they have the chemistry, talent and confidence to carry on in the College Football Playoff without former coach Lane Kiffin.
Unlikely as that may have sounded at first when Kiffin left to take over at Southeastern Conference border rival LSU on Nov. 30, two days after the regular-season finale for Ole Miss, there’s been little evidence to the contrary.
The Rebels, having dramatically vanquished SEC champion Georgia in a Sugar Bowl for the ages on New Year’s Day, are moving on to the CFP semifinals and preparing for a Fiesta Bowl date with Miami next Thursday at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
“It’s a super tough group,” Pete Golding — who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach as Kiffin’s replacement — said after the sixth-ranked, sixth-seeded Rebels (13-1) walked off of the Superdome field with a 39-34 victory over second-ranked, third-seeded Georgia. “They’ve got a lot of grit, and they love playing football, and they’re not tired of it.”
Georgia, the only team to beat Ole Miss this season — the Bulldogs won 43-35 in Athens back in October — was favored by nearly a touchdown in the rematch and led by nine at halftime. The Rebels rallied to take a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, but they still needed late-game poise by their defense, a big throw by Chambliss and a clutch kick by Lucas Carneiro to pull it out.