Gunner Stockton has cruised through the opening weeks of the season, but Oklahoma is the kind of test that changes the conversation fast.
Through three games, Stockton has been nearly flawless by the box score, throwing nine touchdowns and only seven incompletions. That production has come against Tennessee State, Western Kentucky and Arkansas, though, and the level of resistance has been limited. Oklahoma figures to be a very different assignment.
The Sooners arrive at Saturday’s matchup at 2-1, with their only loss coming against Michigan and a narrow win over New Mexico last week by eight points. Their issues have been more on offense than defense.
On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma has been excellent. The Sooners have allowed just 23 points all season, including 17 on the road at Michigan, and they rank No. 4 nationally in scoring defense at 7.7 points per game.
That is the sort of unit Stockton has not run into yet this year. Georgia’s offense scored a touchdown every time he took the field in its first two games, and against Arkansas, he did not even play the full contest because the Bulldogs were so dominant. That kind of comfort is unlikely to be available on Saturday.
Oklahoma’s defense has the talent and the coaching to slow Georgia down, even in Athens. Stockton will have to deal with a level of pressure and discipline he simply has not seen through the first month of the season.
The challenge is not just physical. It is mental, too.
In the first three games, Stockton had the freedom to operate almost however he wanted. Oklahoma may not let him settle in that way. There could be stretches where the Sooners string together stops, and it would not be a surprise if they force a turnover or get to him for a few sacks along the way.
How Stockton handles those moments will matter. If he keeps rolling against one of the toughest defenses he is likely to face this season, it would put him on a track toward one of the best quarterback seasons in program history. If he hits some turbulence, that does not automatically mean trouble.
What it would mean is a real chance to show resilience. If Oklahoma has stretches where it controls the game and Stockton still helps Georgia win, that would say plenty about the kind of player and leader he is.
In Other News...
Five-Star Kellan Hall Just Gave Georgia Fans A Reason To Watch
Five-star recruit Kellan Hall is back on the road this week, and Georgia will get an important in-person look as he visits Athens during the Bulldogs game against Oklahoma. Hall has already drawn plenty of attention on the recruiting trail, and while Oklahoma has long been viewed as the predicted landing spot, he remains uncommitted and has kept Georgia in his top 10.
The timing of the visit makes it especially notable for Georgia fans, since it comes with the Sooners in town and adds another layer to a high-profile matchup. Even with Oklahoma still considered the favorite, Halls presence in Athens gives Georgia a real chance to make a late impression, and it keeps his recruitment very much worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia's Biggest Edge Vs Oklahoma Just Got More Important
Oklahoma is heading into its matchup with Georgia already dealing with issues up front, and those problems only sharpen the focus on where this game could be won or lost. Brent Venables confirmed that left tackle Michael Fasusi is out and defensive tackle David Stone is questionable, a development that puts even more pressure on a Sooners team trying to withstand one of the SECs most physical fronts.
Venables framed the meeting as the kind of game where line play matters as much as anything else, and that is exactly why Georgia will view this as a chance to lean on its size and depth. With the Sooners preparing for a difficult night and a few key pieces uncertain, the Bulldogs biggest edge now looks even more significant than it did at the start of the week. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Just Got A Massive Backcourt Boost For March Push
For a Georgia program trying to keep its momentum rolling into another March run, the latest news in the backcourt matters. Blue Cain and Marcus Millender both turned down transfer interest and will return for their senior seasons, giving Mike White a pair of experienced guards who already know the demands of playing in this system and the expectations that come with it.
White said both players had been presented with lucrative opportunities elsewhere, but chose to stay and help build on the Bulldogs recent NCAA Tournament appearances. Millenders decision carries an added family angle, too, with the chance to suit up alongside his older brother Kemauri after his recent move to Athens, giving Georgia a little more continuity and a little more depth where it can least afford to lose either. [Read more 🡒]