Georgia’s Smart gambles on fourth down with mixed results in a CFP loss to Ole Miss

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Sensing the game might be getting away, Georgia coach Kirby Smart junked any semblance of conservatism in favor of straight-up gambling in the second half of a quarterfinal College Football Playoff clash against Mississippi at the Sugar Bowl.

His decisions to run offensive plays on fourth down three times from Bulldogs territory produced two drive-sustaining first downs. But on balance, it did not pay off in a 39-34 loss.

Smart called or a fake punt on fourth-and-6 from the Bulldogs’ 29 after the Rebels scored a touchdown to pull within 21-19 in the third quarter.

That one worked, with wide receiver Landon Roldan taking a handoff and completing a pass to tight end Lawson Luckie for 17 yards, prolonging a drive that ended in a 37-yard field goal by Peyton Woodring.

Unfazed, Ole Miss scored another touchdown on its next possession and converted a 2-point play, going ahead 27-24. That prompted Smart to take another huge risk – and it failed.

Smart had the offense race on to the field on fourth-and-2 from the Georgia 33 early in the fourth quarter to catch the Rebels off guard, but quarterback Gunner Stockton was sacked for a 10-yard loss, handing the ball to Ole Miss at the Bulldogs’ 23.

The Rebels needed only two plays to capitalize, going ahead 34-24 on a touchdown pass from Trinidad Chambliss to Harrison Wallace III with 9:02 left.

Smart was not done.

After the Bulldogs closed the gap to 34-31 and forced an Ole Miss punt, Georgia’s offense remained on the field on fourth-and-9 from the Georgia 48 with 3:13 left, even though he had all three timeouts remaining, along with a standard stoppage with 2 minutes left.

Stockton found Zachariah Branch for 16 yards, leading to a tying field goal with 56 seconds left.

Turns out what they really needed was a go-ahead touchdown.