How No. 2 Georgia dominated No. 10 Ole Miss behind dynamic offense

Georgia routed Ole Miss as Brock Bowers returned, Bulldogs' offense ripped through Rebels.

Seth Emerson and The Athletic College Football Staff

November 12, 2023 at 7:50 AM EST How No. 2 Georgia dominated No. 10 Ole Miss behind dynamic offense

Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

Georgia defense steps up

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This Georgia defense, as mortal as it’s been this year, continues to pick the right time in games to be dominant. From early in the second quarter through the end of the third quarter, six possessions, Ole Miss was held to a combined 19 yards on 21 plays. That was plenty enough after a start to the game that looked like it could be a shootout: Ole Miss reached the end zone on the opening drive - becoming the fifth team to do so against Georgia - and was winning the line of scrimmage. But as it has all season the Georgia defense adjusted, keying on the run and forcing Ole Miss to try to win through the air. It could not.

Bowers played a lot tonight

Brock Bowers, making his surprisingly fast return from ankle surgery, not only played but played a lot: He was on the majority of snaps before Georgia pulled the starters. Bowers caught the touchdown pass that put Georgia up 45-14, and finished with three catches for 34 yards, looking like his old self much of the time: Blocking, making cuts and shedding tacklers.

Georgia offense has been elite

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Georgia’s offense again played at an elite level. The first four drives? All touchdowns. Then two more in the second half to put it away. Carson Beck was again outstanding, racking up more than 300 passing yards. Ladd McConkey and the receivers embarrassed Ole Miss defenders. Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards ran wild (two touchdowns each, Milton with a career-high 127 yards on just nine carries.)

Georgia’s first-team offense averaged 10.5 yards per play. Maybe it wasn’t the stiffest competition: Ole Miss came in ranked fifth in the SEC in defensive YPP, but gave up 28 points the previous week to a below-average Texas A&M offense. So the Rebels were there for the taking, and the Bulldogs took.

Bowers gets in end zone

Brock Bowers, touchdown catch. Georgia now leads Ole Miss 45-14.

Bulldogs putting this one away

Georgia is close to putting this game away, taking a 38-14 lead late in the third quarter. The Georgia defense, after the rough start to the game, now has six straight stops, allowing a combined 19 yards over those six Ole Miss drives. That's a huge change from the first three drives when it looked like this would be a shootout. Georgia's offense, however, has only slightly slacked off its earlier pace and is approaching 500 yards as the third quarter ends.

Jaxson Dart injured

Spencer Sanders in at QB for Ole Miss, after Jaxson Dart goes down with what looked like an upper-body injury.

McConkey injured

Georgia wide receiver Ladd McConkey headed to the injury tent, was limping a bit on the sideline, but on his power.

Bulldogs big favorites in second half

With a 28-14 lead at halftime, Georgia is now a 20.5-point favorite against Ole Miss in the live odds on BetMGM. The Bulldogs were 10.5-point favorites before the game but are already leading by more than that. The live total is up to 70.5 points after 42 points in the first half. Will the shootout continue in the second half?

Georgia leads 28-14 at the half

No. 2 Georgia is up 28-14 on No. 9 Ole Miss, and once again the Bulldogs are doing it with offense: four touchdowns in their first four drives, and in field goal range in the final seconds of the half, only to have a pass go over a receiver’s hand and be picked off. Still, the offense has done exactly what it had to do in a game where the Ole Miss offense was having early success, picking on Georgia’s young linebackers. But the Bulldogs got enough stops, and their offense is threatening to make this a runaway.

Georgia racked up 304 yards on just 30 plays in the first half. Carson Beck has been on point, throwing for 214 yards, with Ladd McConkey (81 yards and a TD) putting on a show.

This is not a shock

How could you ever trust a Lane Kiffin-coached team in a big game? Kiffin's teams usually do this? Put up some points but make silly mistakes and rarely stop an opponent. That's not a recipe for winning at the highest level. And to beat Georgia, you have to play sound, fundamental football. That's not a Kiffin-coached team's strength.

Bulldogs can't be stopped

Georgia's offense is elite, and Ole Miss' defense is embarrassing. That's how you get to 28-14 in the second quarter.

Bowers having an impact for Georgia

Brock Bowers is playing and looking like his old self, breaking tackles, making cuts and making plays. Bowers has two catches for 26 yards with six minutes left in the second quarter and has been on the field for most of Georgia's plays.

But the receivers are having the biggest impact: Ladd McConkey has three catches for 76 yards with a TD, Rara Thomas has two catches for 54 yards. Carson Beck has racked up 182 yards on his first 10 passes.

Is McConkey always open?

Ladd McConkey is quite something.

Back and forth they go

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Georgia and Ole Miss combined for three touchdowns and 315 yards in offense in the first quarter. Bulldogs averaged 15 yards per play, Rebels 6.9.

This is Iowa's alternate universe.

What a throw

Carson Beck has been doubted. But he looks like an NFL talent.

That's too easy

First Georgia TD drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:02.

Second Georgia TD drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 1:22.

Sanford Stadium is rocking

I’m old enough to remember when Sanford Stadium didn’t really have a vibe.

It so has a vibe now.

Brock Bowers returns for Georgia’s offense against Ole Miss

Brock Bowers returned to play for second-ranked Georgia on Saturday, the star tight end missing only two games after surgery for a high ankle sprain. Here’s what you need to know as Georgia hosts No. 9 Ole Miss:

Bowers was on the field for Georgia’s first offensive play.

The injury occurred on Oct. 16, during the second quarter of Georgia’s win at Vanderbilt. Bowers had the tightrope surgery two days later, and while the timeline varies depending on the player and position, three to six weeks is a general timetable. Bowers ended up on the short end of it.

While there was a steady rain most of Saturday, it stopped a few hours before kickoff. That probably cleared any doubt for Bowers and the Georgia staff.