Georgia Football Returns to New Orleans: Job Not Finished
by Keegan Shinall
Dawgs OTL Writer/ Bleeds Red and Black
With the Dawgs heading back to New Orleans this postseason, it’s impossible not to reflect on the heaviness that surrounded last year’s trip. Bowl season is usually about competition, celebration, and one last shared moment with a team that’s meant so much to its fans. But last year, all of that faded quickly. What should have been a joyful week turned somber as the passing of Sonny Smart cast a shadow over the entire Georgia family. The loss on the field hurt, but it felt secondary to the heartbreak off it, compounded by a series of tragic events, including a terror attack that shook the city. To be quite blunt, it fucking sucked.
Luckily, NOLA & DAWG Nation are both highly resilient. The marching bands will be seen in the streets, the Mardi Gras beads will be a plenty, and the DAWGS will be ready to EAT.
(Cafe Du Monde is my go to if you’re going to be in New Orleans grab a Beignet)
What better treat for the Sugar Bowl other than French pastry laden with powdered sugar .
Georgia’s Comfort in the Sugar Bowl and on the New Orleans Stage
While Ole Miss will be in the biggest spotlight the team has been in.. in decades, Georgia knows this building. Georgia knows this city. Georgia knows what it takes when the lights get hot and the stakes get real. The Sugar Bowl has long been a proving ground. If nobody tuned in and the Super Dome were empty, I know Georgia would want to prove it to themselves. Victory typically leans towards the team with confidence, composure, and physicality, all traits Georgia has consistently carried into postseason play. This isn’t a new environment for the Dawgs. It’s familiar territory. Put the cameras down. There’s work to be done. Kobe said it best, “jobs not finished”.
Ole Miss Enters Dangerous with New Leadership and Nothing to Lose
Ole Miss arrives with fresh energy under a new head coach and the kind of fearlessness that comes with having nothing to lose. Teams in transition don’t play cautiously; they play aggressively, sometimes recklessly. That approach can rattle even elite opponents early. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it leads to mistakes that snowball quickly. Georgia understands that danger and knows it must be handled early. So with potential shenanigans in play, contrarily I expect somewhat of a Pete Golding effect. It’s hard to see this game being near as offensively oriented as the last.
A Saban Tree Chess Match on the Sidelines
What separates this matchup from a typical postseason rematch is the battle on the sidelines. Two defensive minds shaped under Nick Saban now square off, each fully aware of the other’s tendencies, philosophies, and pressure points. There are no schematic secrets here just adjustments, discipline, and toughness. By the second half, this game will come down to which staff adapts better when the initial plan no longer works. That is where Georgia has THRIVED the most. It’s hard not to feel an advantageous mindset creep in but that’s why the DAWGS must be laser focused this go.
Rematches at this level are brutal. History shows that teams rarely get the benefit of familiarity the second time around. The pressure intensifies. Mistakes are magnified. Elite programs, however, don’t flinch. Georgia has lived in this space for years, navigating rematches and postseason expectations with consistency. Against Ole Miss, in the Sugar Bowl, and in New Orleans, the historical edge favors the Dawgs but history only matters if you’re ready to uphold it.
Injury Report Impact: Why Colbie Young’s Return Matters
The injury report adds another layer, and the names matter. Georgia will be without edge rusher Gabe Harris Jr., defensive backs Joenel Aguero and Kyron Jones, interior lineman Jordan Hall, and offensive lineman Drew Bobo, thinning depth in both the trenches and the secondary. That makes the return of Colbie Young especially important. Young provides a physical presence on the perimeter — a big-bodied receiver capable of winning contested catches, blocking in the run game, and settling the offense in high-leverage moments. With Ethan Barbour also listed as probable at tight end, Georgia regains flexibility in its passing concepts and big bodied red-zone packages. Ole Miss faces its own challenges, with Cedrick Beavers and John Wayne Oliver out, Raymond Collins doubtful, and Caleb Odom questionable. In the postseason, depth and durability often decide outcomes as much as playcalling. Again, the advantage goes to Georgia.
How Georgia’s Defense Has Evolved Since the First Meeting
Since their October meeting, both teams have been winning — but the paths couldn’t be more different. On paper, the records look similar. In reality, Georgia’s run has been forged against tougher competition. Early in the season, the Dawgs’ defense was still searching for its identity, allowing nearly 20 points per game and struggling against ranked opponents. Then something changed. Adjustments were made. Pride took over. Since that game, Georgia’s defense has transformed, cutting down scoring, smothering ranked teams, and reestablishing itself as a unit that thrives when the lights are brightest. Whatever Ole Miss saw the first time around, this version of Georgia’s defense is different. Still, that doesn’t mean Trinidad Chambliss isn’t worthy of our respect. When It comes to a football analysis he’s just a baller. If we give him too much time or don’t stay at home in the running lanes he could gain large chunks of yards easily. Kewan Lacy to me is the 2nd best if nothing else the most battle-tested back in the country. If I’m Ole Miss I’m trying to get away from being so one dimensional and letting my All Star RB take over. That said, Georgia held Bama to -3 yards last game. This is really what I think will decide the game.
Ole Miss ranks second nationally in total yards and tenth in offensive touchdowns, and that production was on full display during the first matchup. The Rebels are explosive and confident. But since that fourth quarter, Georgia’s defense has flipped the switch. This is where postseason football draws a line. Champions respond. A win would be meaningful, but a victory defined by defensive dominance against an offense of this caliber would say something more. It would give an obnoxious Georgia fan like myself even more confidence , a scary proposition for my friends who cheer for other teams.
What Will Decide the Game Late
By the fourth quarter, this won’t be about scheme diagrams or yardage totals. It’ll be about contact. Conditioning. Depth. Who still trusts their technique when legs are heavy and the margin for error disappears. If this were a 7 on 7 matchup I could say objectively much closer to a wash. However, I think we have a scrappy set of dudes in the trenches that have something to say about that. Georgia’s return to New Orleans isn’t just about advancing it’s about resilience, redemption, and proving once again that when the stage is biggest, the Dawgs are built for it. LETS EAT DAWGS.
THREE MORE GAMES. JOBS NOT FINISHED. LFG.
Gimme Georgia taking care of business in NOLA.
Final Score: 31-19.
Go DAWGS!
