Georgia's Kirby Smart ripped for terrible fourth down play call in Sugar Bowl

Kirby Smart has earned widespread praise for his play calling during Georgia’s run to two national championships. One decision in Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl, however, proved costly and raised eyebrows.

Facing fourth and two from its own 33-yard line, Georgia initially sent out the punt team before pulling it back and inserting quarterback Gunner Stockton and the offense. 

Many believed the Bulldogs were attempting to draw Ole Miss offsides. Instead, Stockton took the snap and immediately came under pressure from edge rusher Suntarine Perkins, who stripped Stockton and recovered the fumble with 9:31 remaining.

suntarine perkins; ole miss vs georgia pic.twitter.com/rQbou30Rho

Ole Miss capitalized quickly. Two plays later, quarterback Trinidad Chambliss connected with Harrison Wallace for a touchdown. The Rebels converted the ensuing two-point attempt to take a 34-24 lead with just over nine minutes left.

The sequence was huge, giving Ole Miss a short field and momentum with plenty of time remaining. It was an uncharacteristic misstep for Smart, particularly in a game still very much within reach. Chambliss continued to shine, setting a Sugar Bowl record with 13 consecutive completions. The former Division II standout surpassed 300 yards passing and threw two touchdowns.

With the outcome likely hinging on which offense has the final possession, the closing minutes promised to be decisive. The game can be found on ESPN. 

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