Before he was the Sugar Bowl Offensive Player of the Game, Trinidad Chambliss was a zero-star recruit with no Division I scholarship offers. On Thursday night, the former Division II standout completed an "impossible" journey, leading the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels to a 39-34 upset of No. 3 Georgia and a spot in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.

Chambliss, who arrived in Oxford after winning two national championships at Ferris State, dismantled one of the nation’s top defenses in front of a national audience. He finished 30-of-46 for a career-high 362 yards and two touchdowns, shattering a Sugar Bowl record for consecutive completions along the way.

The rise of Chambliss is a rarity in the modern era of high-stakes recruiting. Coming out of Forest Hills Northern High School in Michigan, Chambliss was overlooked by every major program in the country. He spent four years at Ferris State, where he eventually became the Harlon Hill Trophy finalist and led the Bulldogs to a 14-1 season and a D-II title in 2024.

Despite his dominance at the lower level, critics questioned whether his dual-threat skill set would translate to the SEC. Chambliss entered the season as a backup to Austin Simmons, but after an injury thrust him into the starting role, he never looked back.

The Rebels (13-1) entered the locker room at halftime trailing by nine, facing a Georgia program that had won 53 straight games when leading at the break. However, Chambliss caught fire in the second half, completing 13 consecutive passes—surpassing the previous Sugar Bowl record held by Florida legend Tim Tebow.

The game reached its fever pitch in the final minute. After Georgia tied the game at 34 with 56 seconds remaining, Chambliss orchestrated a final "miraculous" drive. He connected with De'Zhaun Stribling for a 40-yard gain on 3rd-and-5, setting up kicker Lucas Carneiro for a 47-yard game-winning field goal with just six seconds left on the clock.

The victory secured several milestones for the Ole Miss program:

• First 13-win season in program history.
• First-ever trip to the College Football Playoff Semifinals.
• Seven Sugar Bowl wins, trailing only Alabama for the most all-time.

Chambliss wasn't the only standout. Receiver Harrison Wallace III posted career highs with nine catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. At the same time, Kewan Lacy added two rushing scores, tying an SEC single-season record with 23 rushing touchdowns.

On the defensive side, Suntarine Perkins delivered a game-altering strip-sack in the fourth quarter, and Will Echoles was named Defensive Player of the Game after batting down two passes and recording two tackles for loss.

The Rebels now shift their focus to the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, where they will face No. 10 Miami for a chance to play for the National Championship. For Chambliss, the game represents another opportunity to prove that stars and rankings don't define the player.

Kickoff at State Farm Stadium is set for Thursday, Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.