As the No. 2 seed Georgia Bulldogs prepare for the College Football Playoff, they will do so without starting quarterback. The second-year starter sustained an elbow injury on the final play of the first half during Georgia’s SEC Championship Game win over Texas on December 7. Before the injury, Beck had led the Bulldogs to a 10-2 record, throwing for 3,485 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Reports this week have raised concerns about Beck’s availability for the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day and for potential playoff matchups beyond that, should Georgia advance. According to ESPN, Georgia is preparing for the playoffs without Beck, who hasn’t rejoined the team since the SEC title game. Head coach Kirby Smart addressed the situation on ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Friday.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart provided an update on Carson Beck’s situation, saying that Beck and his family traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, to explore options for moving forward. Smart emphasized that the team has been in communication with Beck and is hoping for the best.
In Beck’s absence, redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton stepped in as the quarterback against Texas. Stockton, a former four-star recruit, helped lead the Bulldogs to a 22-19 overtime win, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with one interception. While Beck’s leadership and experience will be missed if he is unable to return for the postseason, Stockton has shown promise.
Stockton, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback, set several passing records at Rabun County High School before joining Georgia in the class of 2022. He was ranked as the No. 7 quarterback in his class by 247Sports. Over the past two seasons, Stockton has made eight appearances, with most of them coming in blowout victories, excluding the SEC Championship Game.
Looking ahead, Georgia will face the winner of the game between No. 10 Indiana (11-1) and No. 7 Notre Dame (11-1) in the upcoming playoff matchup. The game will kick off on Friday night in South Bend at 8 p.m. ET (ABC).
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