Gunner Stockton Brings Playoff Experience-and Motivation-Into Georgia’s CFP Clash with Ole Miss
When the College Football Playoff kicks off this year, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton will be the only signal-caller in the four-team field who’s been here before. That experience matters-especially when the lights are brightest and the pressure ratchets up with every snap. While his first go-round in the CFP didn’t end the way he or Georgia wanted, Stockton’s been carrying that sting with him all year-and he’s made it clear it’s fueling his fire heading into this semifinal showdown with Ole Miss.
“I’ve had a bad taste in my mouth, to be honest, ever since,” Stockton said Monday, reflecting on last January’s loss to Notre Dame in the quarterfinals.
That game-his playoff debut-was a learning moment. Stockton didn’t play poorly by any stretch.
He completed 20 of 32 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. But Georgia never really found its footing, and Notre Dame controlled the tempo from the opening whistle.
For a program with national title expectations, that kind of exit lingers.
Now, nearly a year later, Stockton is back in the playoff spotlight. But this time, he’s not just a participant-he’s the only quarterback in the field who’s been through the CFP grind.
That alone gives him a mental edge. He knows what the media frenzy feels like.
He’s navigated the extended prep time, the neutral-site environment, the heightened stakes. There’s no substitute for that kind of experience, and Georgia is counting on it to pay dividends.
The Bulldogs will face a familiar opponent in Ole Miss, a team they already defeated earlier this season. On paper, Georgia has every reason to feel confident. They’ve been the more complete team all year, and this time around, Ole Miss will be without head coach Lane Kiffin-a major absence that could impact everything from game planning to in-game adjustments.
But this is the College Football Playoff. There are no layups here.
Georgia knows they can’t afford to take this matchup lightly, and Stockton’s mindset is a big reason why. He’s not talking like a quarterback who’s looking past anyone. If anything, he sounds like a guy who’s been waiting all year for a shot at redemption-and he’s making sure his teammates feel that urgency too.
That’s where Stockton’s leadership comes into play. He’s not the loudest guy in the room, but his teammates follow his lead.
And right now, that lead is laser-focused. There’s no complacency, no looking ahead.
Just one game, one opponent, and one opportunity to take another step toward a national championship.
For head coach Kirby Smart, Stockton’s been the steady hand this team needed. He’s grown into the role, matured through adversity, and now brings the kind of playoff poise that can’t be coached. In a postseason field filled with first-time playoff starters, Georgia has the one guy who’s already been through the fire-and that could make all the difference.
The Bulldogs are built for this moment. And with Gunner Stockton at the helm, they’ve got a quarterback who’s not just ready for it-he’s driven by it.