This is a key area.
Paul Finebaum Reveals What Gunner Stockton Does Better Than Carson Beck originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Georgia Bulldogs are entering the Gunner Stockton era at quarterback after Carson Beck, their starter for the previous two seasons, announced his transfer to the Miami Hurricanes following the 2024 season.
Beck threw for 7,426 yards, 52 touchdowns and 18 interceptions during his two seasons as the starting quarterback. However, he was unable to lead the team to a national championship. That is the challenge Stockton now faces.
Paul Finebaum of ESPN has shared strong opinions about Stockton this offseason. He admitted on "The Paul Finebaum Show" that he has been overly critical and mentioned one aspect in which he prefers Stockton over Beck.
"I think I have graded him on a very stiff curve, playing against Notre Dame, which had an elite team," Finebaum said. "I like him better than Carson Beck in terms of the moment. Listen, Beck looked great against Tennessee when he had to. But how many other times could you count on him with what he was up against? I think you're right about Gunner. He's gritty. ... I'm not as down on him as I am the overall philosophy of the offense."
Paul Finebaum Believes Gunner Stockton Is Middle of the Pack in the SEC
While Finebaum acknowledged that he has been too critical of Stockton, he has discussed him frequently this offseason. He mentioned that he anticipates Stockton will perform as a middle-of-the-pack quarterback in the SEC this season.
“I don’t rank him really high,” Finebaum said. “I think he’s middle of the pack. Maybe middle to lower of the pack. He could go higher. That’s a cliche, but I’m telling you that anyway, and ultimately he has a lot to prove.”
Stockton begins the 2025 season with limited playing experience, having appeared in only five games last season. During those games, he threw for a total of 440 yards and one touchdown, with most of his contributions coming during the SEC Championship Game victory and the College Football Playoff loss after starter Beck suffered a season-ending injury.
Stockton played a vital role in leading the Bulldogs to an overtime victory against the Texas Longhorns, securing the SEC title after stepping in for Beck, who was injured in the first half. The Bulldogs won the game 22-19, with a key moment being Stockton’s 8-yard run on second-and-8 at the 12-yard line during overtime. On the next play, Trevor Etienne rushed in for the game-winning touchdown.
In the playoff quarterfinals, Georgia faced a tough matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, losing 23-10 while struggling offensively throughout the game. Stockton completed 20 of 32 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown.
Paul Finebaum Doesn’t Think Gunner Stockton Can Lead Georgia to a National Championship
Although Stockton demonstrated potential last season, Finebaum questions his ability to lead Georgia to its first national championship since 2022.
“My answer is no,” Finebaum previously said. “I don’t have a lot of faith in Gunner Stockton. The better question is, do I have more faith in Gunner Stockton today than I did in Stetson Bennett four or five years ago? I probably do. So, it’s proven that Georgia, if it has an elite defense and enough complements on offense, can get there.”
Finebaum wants to see more from Stockton to determine if Georgia can become an elite team in 2025 or if the Bulldogs are simply a good team that cannot win a national championship.
Georgia will kick off the season at home against the Marshall Thundering Herd at 3:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names College Football Powerhouse He Doesn't Feel Great About
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
