Georgia is ready to ace their first College Football Playoff game of the postseason. Coach Kirby Smart minutely takes care of every possible loop except for one. Yes, we are talking about a Georgia without Carson Beck. It is as absurd as it sounds. Sure, you can argue that Beck did nothing for the team, judging by his horrible interceptions against Alabama and Florida. But, regardless of every debate, Beck repeatedly proved his class. Gunner Stockton can be a silver lining for the Dawgs, but can he be entrusted for a national championship?

Gunner Stockton, the promising former four-star recruit from the Blue Ridge Mountains, has a lot on his plate. His aggressive power football has been a key appealing point of his tenure in the Dawg Nation. On the flip, he is not a very affluent passer up to this point. But, he need not be a master of all trade and carry the load of an entire team on his shoulders. The common narrative put him on a high pedestal that might backfire afterwards, especially when it comes to messing with a storied Notre Dame.

Shaking a conventional reality, CBSSports’ Chip Patterson kept it crisp and simple for the 21-year-old. ”I think if you look at the situation like it’s not ideal to be having to turn to your backup quarterback in your very first playoff game in the quarterfinals, facing a very good Notre Dame team. But I think the best thing you can do for Gunner Stockton is try to find success in the run game, and take as much off of his plate as you possibly can.”

Is Patterson saying that Kirby Smart shouldn’t trust his QB2? Well, no. And any doubt that Kirby Smart may have had were put away in the SEC Championship game against the Longhorns. However, to play devil’s advocate here- everyone was amazed by the touchdown drive that Stockton led when he came into the game in the second half. At the same time, he also threw a horrible interception and let the Longhorns have another go at the Bulldogs in the 4th quarter. We can praise his ability to extend the plays with his legs while also pointing out that his passing range is limited, to say the least.

‘‘If I’m Georgia, I’m trying to keep this thing low-scoring and close as it is to give myself a chance to win. So with Gunner Stockton, I’m pretty much looking at him saying, we need you to make some throws. We’re going to need you to make some plays, but we don’t want you feeling like you have to go out there and be Carson Beck and win this game for us,” Patterson laid out an easy formula.

You might term it as a low-key disrespect to a QB who showcased enough talent to be placed at center-stage of a top-tier offense, but in reality, it’s just a warning of the past offensive spars that Georgia has faced throughout their season. Any room for the turnover is a big no-no.

Kirby Smart kind of sings the same as the analyst. He doesn’t bet a dime on his new backup QB. He agrees that Stockton has all that it takes to be an eye candy on a big game day, but he is just not making it obvious. Stockton had enough reps in the practice, and he tried his best to be ready for a team like Notre Dame. However, if you look at the rest of the depth chart, there is reason to hope for a third title without Beck and even Stockton as the pivot.

”We have plenty of talent on the offense. We could score points with just you managing the situation and making smart decisions and don’t turn the ball over. I think that is key,” said Patterson to conclude the Gunner ‘Stockton in Carson Beck’s shoe’ debate.

But Marcus Freeman isn’t sleeping on the animal competitive spirit that Stockton possesses.

Marcus Freeman seems to be cautious of Gunner Stockton’s ultimate competitor vibe 

Notre Dame’s defense is a thing to be dangerously wary of. In Carson Beck’s absence, they will be keen to limit Stockton to the lowest when the Irish meet the Bulldogs in the Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal at Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans. Coach Marcus Freeman had a detailed study of Stockton’s snaps while studying his film. Although he doesn’t get much to look at, he pinpointed the areas that should be handled with care.

The 38-year-old Irish head coach said that Stockton can run Georgia’s offense, and he’s very capable of extending plays with his legs. It might be a little more unconventional than the usual Bulldogs style, but he can still get the job done. But his athletic ability is not as dangerous as his competitive mindset is.

It’s all in the brain, sweet! It’s how you think and how you train your brain to function because the body will act accordingly. Freeman spotted the massive X factor in Stockton’s resume and it is nothing but his indomitable competitive aura. ”You can just tell by the way he celebrates, by the way he goes and finishes plays,” the Notre Dame head coach said, dubbing the highly touted Georgia kid as an ultra competitor.

It remains to be seen if Georgia can have the last laugh with Gunner Stockton being the man of the hour or not!