Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM JANUARY 2025 33 QUARTERFINAL PREVIEW: GEORGIA C O L L E G E F O O T B A L L P L A Y O F F 1. Starting Quarterback Reportedly Doubtful For Sugar Bowl As of Dec. 9, multiple reports — including one from On3's Pete Nakos — indicate that redshirt junior Georgia quarterback Carson Beck suffered a UCL injury on a hit to his throwing arm in the SEC Championship Game and is likely to miss the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Considered a first-round lock and potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Beck didn't have the season many hoped he would in his second year as a starter. The Jacksonville, Fla., native saw his yards per attempt fall from 9.5 to 7.8. He took more sacks (11 to 18) and doubled his interception total (6 to 12). Beck completed 7 of 13 pass attempts for 56 yards (4.3 yards a throw) against a dominant Texas defense in the SEC Championship Game. However, the Bulldogs never considered bench- ing him. It looks increasingly like they'll have to in the CFP. 2. That Means QB1 Is Likely Redshirt Sophomore Gunner Stockton And Stockton has never started a college foot- ball game before. A top-150 prospect in the class of 2022, the in-state product completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards (4.4 yards an attempt) with an interception after taking Beck's place against the Longhorns. Most importantly, he led Georgia to an overtime win. "I didn't say one word to him," a choked-up Georgia head coach Kirby Smart told ESPN's Holly Rowe after the game. "[Offensive coordinator Mike] Bobo did. And all the coaches did. And he believed. This kid's a winner. This kid's special." Stockton showed guts, taking a ferocious shot from a Texas defender on the play before Geor- gia's game-winning touchdown in overtime and somehow holding onto the ball. But it remains to be seen if he can start and win the Sugar Bowl. 3. Bulldogs Fought Through Nation's Toughest Schedule Statistically, according to ESPN's FPI, Georgia had the most difficult schedule in college foot- ball. For reference, Notre Dame's schedule ranks 59th. The Bulldogs led the nation with four wins over eventual College Football Playoff teams, beating Clemson, Texas, Tennessee and Texas again. It took multiple overtime thrillers, a scare against 4-8 Kentucky and a closer-than-the-score-indi- cates game against archrival Florida, but Georgia just kept finding ways to win. 4. High-Volume Passing Offense, But Underwhelming Numbers Most would agree Notre Dame's wide receivers have been fine, but slightly underwhelming. Irish senior quarterback Riley Leonard has thrown about two-thirds of Beck's passing attempts this year. If you slash every Bulldog wide receiver and tight end's numbers to fit that ratio, they look an awful lot like Notre Dame's. Unlike the Irish, Georgia does not have an elite run game to fall back on as its offensive identity. The Bulldogs aren't bad at anything on offense, but they don't do anything particularly well, either. 5. Defense More Vulnerable Than 2021-23 Editions, But Rises To The Occasion The numbers paint Georgia as a good, but not great, defense. The Bulldogs rank 23rd in scor- ing defense, allowing 20.4 points per game, and 35th in total defense. That's a far cry from the monstrous Dawgs who destroyed everything in their path in the early 2020s. However, when it really needs to, Georgia's defense can turn back the clock. Aug. 31 against Clemson: 3 points. Oct. 19 against Texas: 7 sacks. Nov. 16 against Tennes- see: 5 more sacks and 4.3 yards per play. And Dec. 7 against Texas: 3 forced turnovers and 1.1 yards per carry. The Bulldogs are still a dominant defense at their best. It's a matter of if they'll be at their best or not in the Sugar Bowl. — Jack Soble Five Things To Know About Georgia Redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton, the No. 149 overall prospect in the class of 2022 per the On3 Industry Ranking, is likely to start at quarterback in place of injured starter Carson Beck (elbow) dur- ing the postseason. PHOTO COURTESY GEORGIA