The 12-team College Football Playoff is still in its infancy, but it’s already challenging some old assumptions-like whether a first-round bye is a blessing or a curse. Last year, all four teams that earned byes were bounced in the quarterfinals, sparking a theory that rest breeds rust.
But this year? The setup is different, and Georgia is ready to prove that rest can still be a weapon-especially when it comes with a quarterback like Gunner Stockton under center.
Let’s start with the format. Last season’s seeding system handed byes to the four highest-ranked conference champions, regardless of where they stood in the overall rankings.
That meant some teams got a week off they might not have earned on merit alone. This time around, the formula’s been fixed.
The byes went to the best teams-not just the best résumés. That alone changes the dynamic.
But what really shifts the narrative is what’s happening in Athens.
Stockton’s Second Act
A year ago, Gunner Stockton was thrown into the fire. Making his first career start in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Notre Dame’s punishing defense, he held his own. But Georgia fell 23-10, and the loss exposed more than just a young quarterback’s growing pains.
Fast forward 12 months, and Stockton is no longer the wide-eyed understudy. He’s now the trusted starter for a Georgia team that earned the No. 3 seed and a first-round bye. He’s battle-tested, confident, and carrying himself with the calm, grounded demeanor that fits his roots.
And here’s the kicker: Georgia’s facing an Ole Miss defense that’s not nearly as fearsome as the one they saw in South Bend last year. In fact, the Bulldogs already faced the Rebels back in October-and Stockton torched them.
That night, he piled up 348 total yards and five touchdowns. No turnovers.
Georgia scored on every possession until it was time to run out the clock. It was a statement game-not just for Stockton, but for a program that had spent the offseason betting big on its young quarterback.
Georgia’s Gamble Pays Off
After a UCL injury ended Carson Beck’s 2024 season during the SEC Championship Game, Georgia could’ve panicked. Beck eventually transferred to Miami, where he reportedly landed a $4 million NIL deal. That kind of money can turn heads-and tempt programs into chasing the next big thing in the portal.
But Georgia didn’t chase. Instead of throwing millions at a high-profile transfer, the Bulldogs doubled down on their guy. They invested in the roster around Stockton, not over him.
It wasn’t the flashy move. It was the right one.
This isn’t new territory for Kirby Smart’s program. Georgia won back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022 with Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on who beat out a five-star transfer in JT Daniels.
When Daniels went down with an injury, Bennett stepped in and never looked back. The Bulldogs had their champion in-house all along.
They weren’t going to make the same mistake twice.
The New Reality of Roster Building
In today’s NIL-driven college football landscape, every dollar counts. Georgia’s decision not to splurge on a transfer QB had ripple effects that helped shape a championship-caliber roster.
Take Zachariah Branch, for example. The former USC speedster has added an explosive element to Georgia’s offense that was sorely missing. Landing him might not have been financially feasible if the Bulldogs had sunk $4 million into a quarterback.
Then there’s the offensive line-deep, experienced, and paid. That depth doesn’t come cheap.
Same goes for a running back room that’s stacked with talent and versatility. Georgia’s financial efficiency allowed them to build a complete team around Stockton, not just a highlight-reel quarterback.
And here’s the thing: Georgia didn’t ignore the portal. They evaluated their options.
They looked at other quarterbacks. But in the end, they trusted what they had-and what they had was enough.
Now It’s Time to Finish the Job
Georgia is back in the same spot where their season ended a year ago. Same quarterback.
Same stage. But this time, the circumstances are different.
Stockton has grown into the role. He’s earned the trust of his coaches, his teammates, and a fanbase that knows a thing or two about quarterback controversies.
He’s already proven he can light up Ole Miss. Now he has the chance to do it again-this time, with everything on the line.
If Georgia wins, it’s not just a trip to the semifinals. It’s a full-circle moment.
It’s validation of a philosophy that says development can still beat splash. That says loyalty and patience still have a place in a sport increasingly driven by money and immediacy.
And it’s a reminder that sometimes, the best move isn’t the loudest one. Sometimes, it’s the one that trusts the guy who’s already in the locker room-who’s already earned his shot.
Georgia made that bet. Gunner Stockton is ready to cash it in.