In-Game Updates: Ole Miss Football Hosts Georgia in Key SEC Bout

The Ole Miss Rebels are playing host to the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart's jersey and helmet prior to the Rebels' game against Georgia. / Ole Miss Athletics

OXFORD -- The hopes for reaching the College Football Playoff hang in the balance for the No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday as they face a must-win game against the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC) needs a win this weekend to stay in the hunt for a CFP berth, but the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) will present their stiffest test of the season to date. Georgia has established itself as a premier program in college football under coach Kirby Smart, and the Bulldogs took down the Rebels 52-17 in Athens a season ago.

Still, this is a new year with new teams, and Ole Miss' strategy in the transfer portal throughout the offseason was based on adding some strength and depth to its offensive and defensive fronts in order to compete against the likes of Georgia in the SEC. That strategy will be put to the test on Saturday.

Follow along below for in-game updates between the Rebels and Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.

READ MORE: Final Score Predictions: Ole Miss Football vs. Georgia

PREGAME

Ole Miss announced its uniform combination for this game on Thursday night, going with what has been dubbed the "Sugar Bowl uniforms" against Georgia. This combo debuted in the Sugar Bowl that concluded the 2021 season, a game the Rebels went on to lose to Baylor after starting quarterback Matt Corral went down with an injury in the first half.

The last time Ole Miss wore this uniform combination, it took down Arkansas 27-20 in Oxford last season. The Rebels released another look at these threads on Saturday in a social media post that you can view below.

Rain or shine ☔️#BeatGeorgia | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/f9LaI00ZpC

— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 9, 2024

As you can tell from the caption, rain is in the forecast today in Oxford, so that will be a factor to watch throughout the course of the game.

OL Jayden Williams, RB Matt Jones and WR Tre Harris are all listed as game-time decisions on the final injury report released before kickoff.

FIRST QUARTER

Georgia wins the toss and defers to the second half. Ole Miss will start with the football.

1Q | 13:53 -- Dart was sacked on second down and appears to be injured. Throws a pass off his back foot on third down that is intercepted. Georgia has good field position. Dart is hobbling to the locker room.

1Q | 10:32 -- Georgia punches it in on the ground on fourth and goal. Georgia 7, Ole Miss 0

1Q | 6:53 -- Austin Simmons pilots a pristine drive for the Rebels, and it's capped off by a nine-yard rushing score from Ulysses Bentley IV. Jaxson Dart is back on the sideline. Ole Miss 7, Georgia 7

1Q | 3:01 -- Dart is back in the game for the Rebels, and he leads a drive that ends in a 23-yard field goal. Ole Miss 10, Georgia 7

1Q | 1:20 -- Ole Miss forces a three-and-out, and the Rebels take over at their own 23.

END 1Q: Ole Miss 10, Georgia 7

SECOND QUARTER

2Q | 12:12 -- One negative play dooms Ole Miss' possession, but it does get another field goal out of the drive. Ole Miss 13, Georgia 7

2Q | 7:15 -- Despite a penalty that extended Georgia's drive on a 3rd & 18, the Rebels get off the field. The punt pins Ole Miss back at its own one-yard line.

2Q | 2:55 -- Caden Davis drills a 53-yard field goal to extend the Rebels' lead. Ole Miss 16, Georgia 7

HALF: Ole Miss 16, Georgia 7

THIRD QUARTER

3Q | 9:44 -- Ole Miss holds the Bulldogs to a field goal. JJ Pegues was also injured on that possession and went straight to the locker room. Ole Miss 16, Georgia 10

3Q | 6:10 -- Jaxson Dart connects with Juice Wells from 10 yards out, and Wells makes an amazing catch in the end zone for that score. Two-point conversion is no good. Ole Miss 22, Georgia 10

3Q | 3:26 -- Ole Miss forces a fumble on Georgia's next possession, and the Rebels recover at their own 29.

3Q | 1:50 -- Ole Miss' drive stalls out near midfield, and the Rebels are forced to punt. Georgia takes over at its own nine.

END 3Q: Ole Miss 22, Georgia 10

FOURTH QUARTER

4Q | 7:22 -- John Saunders hauls in a massive interception, and Ole Miss takes over on offense.

FINAL: Ole Miss 28, Georgia 10