With the College Football Playoff still over two weeks away, Georgia may have the most battle-tested quarterback in the field - and that’s not something you could’ve said this time last year.
Gunner Stockton enters the postseason as the only starting quarterback in this year’s playoff with a CFP game already under his belt. That experience came in last January’s Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, a game that didn’t quite go the way he or Georgia envisioned, but one that laid the groundwork for what’s been a breakout campaign in 2025.
And while the Sugar Bowl performance was up and down, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart sees it as a turning point - not just for Stockton, but for the team’s belief in him.
“I think that playoff start was huge for him,” Smart said. “The atmosphere, the defenses he faced - Notre Dame, Texas - those were big-time games, and he grew from them. They gave him confidence.”
That confidence didn’t come easy. Stockton was thrown into the fire late last season after Carson Beck went down with an elbow injury in the SEC Championship Game against Texas.
With the season hanging in the balance, Stockton stepped in and led the Bulldogs to a gritty 22-19 overtime win over the Longhorns. Then came nearly a month of preparation before the Sugar Bowl, where he made his first career playoff start.
Stockton was solid but far from spectacular against Notre Dame. He finished 20-of-32 for 234 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions - efficient, but not electric.
A costly fumble before halftime gave the Irish a short field and seven points, and Georgia’s offense never quite found its rhythm. Despite outgaining Notre Dame 296-244, the Bulldogs punted four times and ended the game with three straight turnovers on downs.
Still, that game marked the beginning of Stockton’s rise.
He entered the offseason as the presumptive starter and never looked back. Over 13 games this year, Stockton has shown why Georgia put its trust in him. He’s been steady, smart, and, when needed, spectacular.
His early-season highlight came in Week 3 against Tennessee, when he connected with London Humphreys on a clutch fourth-down touchdown that set the tone for the Bulldogs' offense. From there, he delivered in key wins over Auburn, Ole Miss, and Florida - games where his poise and decision-making stood out.
By early November, Stockton was hitting his stride. He followed up strong outings against Texas and Mississippi State with a brief stint in the Heisman conversation. That buzz cooled after quieter games against Charlotte and Georgia Tech, but he roared back in the SEC Championship Game, earning MVP honors in a marquee win over Alabama.
Through it all, Stockton’s numbers speak to both his efficiency and dual-threat ability. He’s completed 70.7% of his passes for 2,691 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Add in 442 rushing yards and eight more scores on the ground, and you’re looking at a quarterback who’s not just managing games - he’s winning them.
“You’ve got a quarterback with a winner’s mentality,” said wide receiver Dillon Bell after the SEC title game. “There was a moment in the fourth quarter where he could’ve forced a throw - a lot of guys would’ve - but he didn’t.
That shows you how smart he is. He’s making the right decisions.”
Now, Stockton and the Bulldogs are waiting to see who they’ll face in the quarterfinals. It’ll be either Ole Miss or Tulane, and both present very different challenges - and opportunities.
Ole Miss has been tough against the pass all year, giving up just 182.6 yards per game through the air. But Stockton carved them up in Week 8, completing 26-of-31 passes (a career-best 83.9%) for 289 yards and four touchdowns with no picks. That performance remains the most efficient any quarterback has been against the Rebels this season - in fact, it was the high-water mark across the board: most completions, best completion percentage, most yards per attempt, most touchdowns, and the highest QB rating Ole Miss has allowed.
Tulane, on the other hand, has struggled mightily against the pass. Despite an 11-2 record, the Green Wave rank 124th nationally in passing defense, giving up over 255 yards per game. They’ve allowed 300+ passing yards five times this season, including a 307-yard, two-touchdown day by Ole Miss in a 45-10 loss back in September.
So while the opponent is still to be determined, one thing is clear: Gunner Stockton is no longer the backup trying to survive. He’s the guy leading Georgia’s charge, and he’s doing it with a full season of experience, growth, and big-game moments behind him.
“He’s played in big games all year,” Smart said. “That first playoff appearance helped, sure. But it’s what he’s done this season that really has him ready.”
And if his trajectory continues, Georgia may have just the quarterback they need to make another deep run.