ATHENS, GA — Forget what you thought you knew about the Georgia Bulldogs this season. This isn’t the same dominant, suffocating defensive machine we’ve seen in recent years. No, this Kirby Smart led squad is something else entirely: a relentless, resilient, and utterly fascinating group that keeps finding ways to win in one of the most brutal conferences in college football. According to Sporting News college football insider Bill Bender, we might be witnessing some of Smart’s best coaching to date.
“I think Kirby has done some of his best coaching, if we’re being honest,” Bender told NitecastMedia.com, dissecting Georgia’s current run.
“The close games against Tennessee, they didn’t panic. They lost to Alabama on a fourth-down call that they’d probably like to have back. And then they’ve gone through the grinder here against Ole Miss.”
The Bulldogs have embraced the grind, navigating a tough schedule that would break lesser teams.
The biggest storyline? The defense isn’t the impenetrable wall of years prior. It’s a noticeable shift, and one that raises eyebrows when considering a deep College Football Playoff run. Although they are a solid but not elite defense, they still have to be respected as they make their presence felt every week. The offense, spearheaded by first-year starting quarterback Gunner Stockton, has made substantial improvements.
“The way that Gunner Stockton has been able to make plays, they had 510 total yards of offense against Ole Miss a couple of weeks ago,” Bender said.
That offensive firepower is precisely why, despite defensive dominance, Georgia remains firmly positioned in the SEC race, though will the less dominant defense be a problem during the College Football Playoff gauntlet?
Although they may not be the most glamorous National Championship contenders, the Bulldogs have demonstrated their worth and capacity to secure victories by any means when it comes to the SEC. They have competed against Alabama and Ole Miss, and even though they do not encounter a strong Texas A&M in their present schedule (who will face Texas in a few weeks), Georgia is certainly trending in the right direction.
The evolution of Stockton has been nothing short of impressive. Early in the season, questions swirled around the young signal-caller. Could he truly lead a championship-caliber team? It took some weeks, but Stockton has steadily improved, grown into his role, and demonstrated an impressive ability to spread the ball out against formidable opposing defenses. His efficiency and poise, even in hostile environments, have been key to Georgia’s offensive surge.
“You go back to the Tennessee game and [he] made one of the best throws of the year to London Humphreys to tie that game and send it into overtime,” Binder added. “That kind of clutch play defines his season. The added mobility helps. He’s a guy who is not Stetson Bennett, but it resembles him at times and the plays he made last season. Stockton makes the plays when they need him to make the plays.”
While Stockton might not possess the pinpoint accuracy of some Heisman contenders like Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, or even Alabama’s Ty Simpson – a quarterback he battled in a thrilling three-point game just weeks ago – his knack for making the right plays at the right time is undeniable.
“I think this is a guy that can lead them to an SEC Championship and can lead them to a deep playoff run,” Bender said.
Georgia has all the ingredients to run the table and slide into the SEC Championship Game. The only question that remains is: who will dare to face them? This resilient Bulldogs team, under the steady hand of Kirby Smart and the maturing leadership of Gunner Stockton, is proving to be the ultimate wildcard in this unpredictable college football season.
