The Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) are in the 2025 College Football Playoff, receiving the No. 3 seed. After winning the SEC Championship 28-7 over the Alabama Crimson Tide, they have received a bye in the first round and will not play again until January 1.
One of the primary reasons for Georgia’s success this season is the performance of first-year starting quarterback Gunner Stockton. Stockton has held the position ever since replacing Carson Beck during the 2024 SEC Championship Game.
Stockton has won over Georgia fans throughout the 2025 college football season. Calls for the Tiger, Georgia, native to represent UGA during the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York grew louder throughout the year. However, on Monday, officials revealed the four finalists for the trophy, and they did not include Stockton.
The four players up for the award include Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love, Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza, Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia and Ohio State QB Julian Sayin.
How well has Stockton done as the starting quarterback at Georgia? Well, let’s take a look at how he’s performed vs the Top 30 teams in F+ (a combination of Bill Connelly’s SP+ metric and Brian Fremeau’s FEI metric). He’s attempted 174 passes, completing 130 of them for a completion % of 74.7. He’s thrown for a total of 1,325 yards, averaging 7.6 yards per attempt, while throwing 14 touchdowns and just 1 interception. He added to that 56 rushes for 213 yards, an average of 3.8 yards per carry, and 4 more touchdowns. In total, he’s combined for 1,538 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Here’s how that stacks up against other Heisman Trophy favorite quarterbacks through the season:
There is no doubt that Stockton performed at his best when the competition was at its highest. He tied for the best completion percentage and the most touchdown passes. Stockton threw the fewest interceptions and also tied for the most rushing touchdowns. He finished with the most total touchdowns and averaged more touchdowns per game. Clearly, the best quarterback in this group when it comes to production against the best teams in the nation.
Even with all of this data available, voters didn’t invite Stockton to New York City as a Heisman finalist. He didn’t have the passing yards or passing touchdown totals that other quarterbacks had. Stockton was No. 48 in passing yards (2,691), No. 53 in yards per attempt (7.6), No. 24 in touchdowns (23), and tied for No. 51 in interceptions (5). However, none of this really matters as yards and explosive plays aren’t what win games.
Points win games, and no one has been better at creating points versus great competition than Stockton. This is a big reason why Georgia has only lost one game this season (and avenged that loss in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday).
Here’s what Kirby Smart had to say about Stockton possibly winning the Heisman:
“The last thing I’m worried about is the Heisman, and I think the last thing he’s worried about is the Heisman,” Smart said. “Gunner’s been awesome for our team. He’s a selfless player. He’s a winner. He cares about his team. He makes great decisions. I think that’s a decision for somebody else. I don’t get into — I’ve never come out and said something like that with our guys. He’s certainly a great player with great players around him.”
Voters may have snubbed Stockton as a Heisman finalist, but he and the Dawgs have bigger fish to fry. Onto the College Football Playoff and a shot at bringing Georgia its third National Title in the last five years.
One Response
The Heisman is a joke. It is supposed to be to the best football player but is primarily given to quarterbacks, running backs and occasionally ends. Never a defensive player. I ignore it.