By Kevin Mahoney
The Georgia Bulldogs have become one of the most dominant football programs in recent years under coach Kirby Smart, but this year, his team will take a step back. The Bulldogs’ home win streak will come to an end, they will fail to defend their SEC title and miss the College Football Playoff for the following three reasons.
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1. Mike Bobo
Georgia’s offense hasn’t been the same since former offensive coordinator Todd Monken left for the NFL and the Baltimore Ravens following the 2022 season. Mike Bobo took over as offensive coordinator after Monken’s departure, and Georgia’s offense has been on the decline ever since. While the statistics will tell you that Bobo’s offense in 2023 was on par with Monken’s 2022 offense, that’s not the case. Under Bobo, Georgia’s offense struggled with slow starts and scored points late in games because they had to, unlike Monken’s offense, which put teams away early and allowed the second and third-string to score late in games.
Last season, these issues became even more glaring with the Bulldogs averaging eight points less and nearly 100 yards less of total offense per game compared to Monken’s final season. The slow starts continued with the Bulldogs scoring nine or fewer first-half points in eight games, including four games with three or fewer first-half points. Last year’s offensive decline came with a returning starter at quarterback, a luxury not afforded to the Bulldogs this year.
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2. Gunner Stockton
With Carson Beck transferring to Miami, Stockton is the next man up at quarterback and the presumed starter for the 2025 season. Stockton saw limited action last season, including coming in for an injured Beck in the SEC Championship and against Notre Dame in the CFP. Stockton looked mediocre against both Texas and Notre Dame in the playoff. The Bulldogs were able to win the SEC with a close win against Texas, but lost their first game of the playoff after a poor offensive showing against the Irish.
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Stockton accounted for one TD and two turnovers, 305 passing yards and minus-15 rushing yards in six quarters played after Beck’s injury. While it’s a small sample size and it might be unfair to judge Stockton based on six quarters he didn’t expect to play, he doesn’t pass the eye test, and that, paired with his inexperience and Bobo’s playcalling, doesn’t bode well for the Bulldogs especially as parity continues to grow in college football.
Chalk Talk | Week 3 #DPDudes
— David Pollack (@davidpollack47) September 14, 2023
College Football Parity: You asked for it,
and this is what has happened… pic.twitter.com/ID3NW4EmH8
3. Parity
There are many common disagreements about the effects of NIL and the transfer portal, but most can agree that both have increased parity in college football. With it being nearly impossible to keep rosters intact due to transfers and players committing to the highest bidder, the current landscape of college football makes it harder than ever to maintain dominance.
While Georgia has no problems recruiting and maintaining an impressive roster, it is now easier for other teams to do the same. The days of five-star talents waiting multiple seasons for a starting spot while developing are, for the most part, over. With playing time and money driving the market, teams like Georgia are losing quality depth and the benefits of long-term player development. This issue isn’t singular to Georgia and affects all of college football.
In today’s college football, Florida State can go 2-10 a year following a 13-1 season, Ohio State can buy a championship roster, and teams like Texas Tech can drastically improve their roster through the portal with the help of wealthy boosters. In today’s college football, it’s not impossible to maintain success—it’s just a lot harder.
