Jan. 1, 2026, 9:52 p.m. ET
NEW ORLEANS — Georgia football senior defensive back JaCorey Thomas has been ejected from the Sugar Bowl on a targeting call.
The 6-foot, 205-pound Thomas was penalized when he hit Ole Miss wide receiver Cayden Lee, who had just caught a pass from Trinidad Chambliss at the Mississippi 41-yard line.
Junior safety Zion Branch, who has 22 tackles on the season, replaced Thomas after the play.
Will Jacorey Thomas get to play in the Fiesta Bowl, should Georgia advance?
Fortunately for the Bulldogs, Thomas shouldn’t miss the first half of the Fiesta Bowl, should the Bulldogs advance to play in it, since the penalty came just before halftime. Had the penalty occurred in the second half, Thomas would be forced to sit out the first half of the Fiesta Bowl.
Georgia leads Ole Miss 21-12 with 23 seconds remaining in the second quarter.