Gunner Stockton Archives

Finebaum questions whether Gunner Stockton can lead Georgia to national title

Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is stepping into the spotlight this season, but not everyone is convinced he’s ready to lead the Bulldogs back to a national title.

Appearing on his show, SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum said he’s not sold on Stockton as a championship-caliber quarterback.

“My answer is no,” Finebaum said. “I don’t have a lot of faith in Gunner Stockton. The better question is, do I have more faith in Gunner Stockton today than I did in Stetson Bennett four or five years ago? I probably do. So, it’s proven that Georgia, if it has an elite defense and enough complements on offense, can get there.”

Stockton replaces Carson Beck, who transferred to Miami after two years as Georgia’s starter. Beck threw for 7,426 yards, 52 touchdowns and 18 interceptions but never delivered a title. That challenge now falls to Stockton, who has appeared in just five games.

Most of his action came late in the 2024 season, after Beck suffered a season-ending injury. In the SEC Championship Game, Stockton stepped in and helped Georgia defeat Texas in overtime, 22-19. He ran for eight yards to set up Trevor Etienne’s game-winning 4-yard touchdown.

In the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, Stockton started against Notre Dame and completed 20-of-32 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown in a 23-10 loss.

Finebaum made it clear he needs to see more.

Stockton will be one of several new starting quarterbacks in the 2025-2026 college football landscape, including new signal-callers at Ohio State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas, Oregon, and Alabama.

The Bulldogs are still expected to contend in the SEC, but the question remains whether Stockton can elevate Georgia from a playoff team to a national champion.

ESPN Labels Georgia-Tennessee as pivotal swing game for the upcoming season

When scanning Georgia’s brutal 2025 football schedule—home dates with Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas, plus road trips to Florida, Auburn, and Georgia Tech—it’s easy to circle several high-stakes matchups. But ESPN’s Mark Schlabach has singled out one game that could quietly swing the Bulldogs’ season: Sept. 13 at Tennessee.

It may not carry the SEC prestige of Alabama or the pageantry of the Florida rivalry, but the road clash against the Volunteers represents a critical turning point early in Georgia’s conference slate.

“It will be a significant road test for starting quarterback Gunner Stockton and the offense playing in one of the most intimidating road environments in the SEC,” Schlabach wrote. He noted that while Georgia has won eight straight against Tennessee—and 13 of the last 15—the Volunteers were a College Football Playoff team last season.

A Crucial Early Test in Knoxville
Georgia enters the season with a young, talented roster led by Stockton, who is stepping into the starting role under massive expectations. Opening with Marshall and Austin Peay should ease him into the job, but Week 3 at Neyland Stadium could be his first true trial by fire.

Kirby Smart is hold a dominant 8-1 against Tennessee since taking over in Athens, the lone loss coming in 2016 on a Hail Mary. Georgia has dominated recent matchups in Knoxville, winning the last four by 24 or more points. But with Alabama looming the following week, Smart and company can’t afford to get caught looking ahead.

Tennessee Reloading After Playoff Push
The Volunteers must replace starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava and leading rusher Dylan Sampson, but their physical run game and defense remain the backbone of Josh Heupel’s program. Heupel understands the significance of this matchup, saying at SEC Media Days, “It will be important for us — that’s Week 3 — that we’re ready to go play at the level we need to against a really good football team.”

Despite Georgia’s recent dominance, Tennessee’s playoff pedigree and hostile home crowd make this a true gut-check moment for a Bulldogs team that needs to establish rhythm before entering an eight-game SEC gauntlet.

Confidence and Momentum at Stake
Beating Tennessee isn’t just about adding another W—it’s about momentum. A win in Knoxville gives Georgia early confidence, especially for Stockton. A loss, however, could immediately put them behind in the SEC race with Alabama waiting in the wings.

In a season loaded with championship expectations and tough opponents, the Week 3 matchup at Rocky Top might just be the one that defines Georgia’s path in the 2025-26 college football season.

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