In a thrilling SEC showdown on Saturday, the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs staged a dramatic come-from-behind victory, topping No. 5 Ole Miss 43-35 at Sanford Stadium. Overcoming a nine-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, Georgia rallied impressively to snap Ole Miss’s perfect record and extend their own home dominance against top-10 opponents.

    Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton was the catalyst for the comeback, delivering a commanding performance by completing 26-of-31 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns, including three to tight end Lawson Luckie. Stockton also added 59 rushing yards and a 22-yard touchdown run, showcasing his dual-threat capability. “Nobody really panics,” Stockton said. “Toward the end of the game, everybody almost kind of has that same goal, that same mentality that we’re going to will ourselves to win.”

   Despite Ole Miss scoring touchdowns on their first five possessions and leading 35-26 in the third quarter, Georgia’s defense found critical stops late in the game. The defense forced back-to-back three-and-outs, making timely plays to halt the Rebels’ offense and giving the offense time to catch up. 

   Linebacker CJ Allen’s pressure forced a critical incompletion in the fourth quarter that ignited the Bulldogs’ decisive scoring drive.

   Head coach Kirby Smart praised his team’s resilience and toughness after the game. “Another day in the SEC. One possession games have become the norm. A lot of credit goes to Lane Kiffin and his stuff. Their team was really prepared to start fast, as they did. But our ability to run the ball at the end of the day is probably the difference in the game,” Smart said. “You don’t win that game if you’re not physically tough, mentally tough. We call it hard to kill. The one thing we are, we’re hard to kill. We won’t go away.”

   Kicker Peyton Woodring contributed three field goals, including a clutch 42-yarder late in the fourth quarter to seal the win. The Bulldogs out-gained the Rebels 510 yards to 351 and controlled the clock with nearly a 15-minute time of possession advantage…a key factor that kept the potent Rebel offense on the sidelines.

   The victory improved Georgia’s record to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in SEC play while handing Ole Miss their first loss of the season. Despite a setback with star wide receiver Colbie Young sustaining a broken leg, the Bulldogs showed that their depth and determination remain formidable.

   Looking ahead, Georgia will enjoy a bye week before traveling to Jacksonville to meet Florida on November 1 (3:30 p.m., ABC)  riding the momentum of a hard-fought, come-from-behind win that reflected the team’s relentless “hard-to-kill” spirit.