The Georgia Bulldogs need redshirt sophomore quarterback Gunner Stockton to play the game of his life in the Sugar Bowl against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Stockton, who was thrust into the starting role during the SEC championship game when Carson Beck went down with an elbow injury, has 51 passing attempts in his college football career.
For Georgia to win a national championship, the Bulldogs need Stockton to deliver right away. Georgia’s last national championship-winning quarterback, Stetson Bennett, came through in countless clutch College Football Playoff situations for Georgia. The Bulldogs need Stockton to do the same.
Of course, it is not exactly reasonable to expect Stockton to lead Georgia to a national title with wins against the nation’s elite teams in his first three career starts. Stockton is going to need help. Georgia has to win in the trenches to make a championship run. The Dawgs can’t expect their back-up quarterback to carry them.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart believes Stockton elevates the level of play of those around him.
“All the players play harder for him,” Smart said. “Do you make the players around you better is what you look for in a quarterback. I think he raises the skill level of everybody around him because of who he is. So that’s my reason for believing he’s a good quarterback.”
Georgia has an ultra-talented roster and is capable of winning a national championship. Georgia is going to need Stockton to avoid turnovers, which have plagued UGA in their two losses this season (seven total turnovers).
So what is a reasonable expectation for Gunner Stockton?
Just look at Stetson Bennett’s first three career starts. Bennett won national titles in 2021 and 2022, but he did not accomplish that without learning from what he did in 2020.
Bennett completed 17 of 28 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown in his first career start against Auburn (a 27-6 win). The next week he completed 16 of 27 passes for 238 yards and three total touchdowns in a 44-21 win over Tennessee.
Georgia’s fortunes unraveled a bit in Bennett’s third career start. Bennett and Georgia lost, 41-24, to future 2020 national champion Alabama. Bennett and UGA kept pace in the first half before Alabama hit another gear in the second half.
Bennett completed 18 of 40 passes for two touchdowns and three interceptions against Alabama. The Alabama game marked the first time in Bennett’s career that he had been under fire from the opposing pass rush and forced into obvious passing situations.
Bennett struggled in his next two starts (at Kentucky and versus Florida). Bennett ultimately lost the starting job after the Florida game and didn’t start for Georgia again … until Sept. 11, 2021, against UAB. Bennett retook the starting job and went 27-1 over the last 28 starts of his career en route to two national championships.
The point is Stockton has a lot to learn in his first career start. He’s not going to be the 2022 version of Bennett on Day 1, but he could be the 2020 version of Bennett.
Georgia’s defense has to support Stockton. The Bulldogs went 2-3 in the Bennett era (including 0-3 from 2020-2021) when allowing over 23 points. Georgia went 2-3 in the Beck era when allowing 23 or more points including 2-2 this season.
Georgia has not lost a game when allowing fewer than 23 points since 2019. If Georgia holds Notre Dame under 23 points, we like UGA and Stockton’s chances. If more is asked of Stockton, Georgia will be in trouble.
Georgia’s formula to victory is allowing less than 23 points and avoiding a multiple interception game from Stockton. That’s how Stockton will have his Bennett moment.