Despite Being Viewed as Championship Contenders by ESPN’s Bill Connelly, Georgia Bulldogs Face Key Concerns Entering the 2025 Season
As fall camp intensifies and anticipation builds around the start of the 2025 college football season, the Georgia Bulldogs remain a central figure in the national conversation. Under the direction of head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia has transformed into a perennial powerhouse, winning two national titles in the past four years and consistently bringing in elite talent through recruiting and the transfer portal. It is no surprise, then, that ESPN’s college football analyst Bill Connelly has once again listed Georgia among the top contenders for this season’s College Football Playoff and national championship. Yet even with the immense respect and expectations surrounding the Bulldogs, Connelly and others acknowledge that there are legitimate concerns the team must address if it hopes to return to college football’s summit.
Georgia’s status as a contender is rooted in its culture of excellence and continuity. Kirby Smart has built a machine in Athens, one that values physicality, depth, and player development. The program recruits better than almost anyone, develops talent at an NFL-caliber rate, and plays disciplined, complementary football. The Bulldogs return a host of key contributors on both sides of the ball, and their schedule, while featuring some challenging matchups, offers a manageable path to the postseason. However, Bill Connelly’s SP+ analytics and preseason evaluations don’t just look at star power—they assess efficiency, returning production, and overall balance. And while Georgia grades out well in most areas, some red flags remain.
One of the biggest questions for Georgia lies in its ability to regain an edge that seemed slightly dulled in 2024. Last season, the Bulldogs were dominant at times but didn’t consistently exhibit the ruthlessness and overwhelming energy that defined their 2021 and 2022 championship teams. The defense, while still elite statistically, showed occasional lapses against up-tempo offenses and mobile quarterbacks. The offense, though efficient, struggled at times to generate explosive plays. In key moments—such as their loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship—Georgia looked more like a very good team than an unbeatable one. Connelly’s projection model accounts for these trends, indicating that while Georgia’s ceiling remains high, there are areas of concern that must be addressed.
At the top of that list is the defense, particularly the front seven. While Georgia has long boasted one of the deepest and most talented defensive line groups in the country, the departure of several veterans leaves questions about experience and leadership. Mykel Williams and Nazir Stackhouse return as anchors, but the Bulldogs will be leaning heavily on younger, less proven players like Jordan Hall, Christen Miller, and freshman phenom Justin Greene. These players are undeniably talented, but fall camp and early-season performances will be critical in determining whether they can consistently control the line of scrimmage against elite opponents. Connelly has noted that Georgia’s run defense efficiency slipped slightly last year—still strong, but not the smothering force it once was.
Linebacker is another area where Georgia must reassert dominance. Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon were fixtures in the middle of the field for the past two seasons, combining athleticism with instinct and leadership. With both players now gone, the Bulldogs are turning to a new wave of linebackers—namely CJ Allen, Raylen Wilson, and Xavian Sorey. All three have flashed potential, but none has proven they can anchor the defense across a full SEC schedule. Georgia’s defensive scheme relies heavily on linebacker versatility: the ability to blitz, cover, and play downhill against the run. Connelly’s analysis suggests that the defense’s efficiency in short-yardage and third-down situations will hinge on how quickly these new linebackers acclimate to their starting roles.
On the back end, Georgia returns All-American safety Malaki Starks, who is among the best defensive players in the country. However, the rest of the secondary features youth and question marks. Cornerback Daylen Everette returns with starting experience, but consistency was an issue last year, and he’ll face competition from rising sophomore AJ Harris and five-star freshman Ellis Robinson IV. At the other safety spot, Georgia needs to identify a reliable partner for Starks. Connelly’s metrics show that Georgia was uncharacteristically vulnerable to deep passes in key moments last season—a troubling trend that cannot continue if they hope to contend with explosive offenses like those at Alabama, Texas, and even Ole Miss.
Offensively, the Bulldogs are in a better place entering this season, primarily due to the return of quarterback Carson Beck. Beck had a solid 2024 season, throwing for more than 3,500 yards and leading Georgia to an SEC East title. His poise, accuracy, and command of the offense were major strengths, and by all accounts, he has improved further this offseason. Bill Connelly ranks Georgia’s quarterback situation among the best in the country, citing Beck’s efficiency, low turnover rate, and ability to distribute the ball to a wide range of playmakers. However, one of the concerns highlighted by Connelly is the lack of consistent explosiveness in Georgia’s passing game.
Beck was efficient last season but rarely took deep shots down the field, and when he did, the results were mixed. The Bulldogs will need more vertical threat capability if they want to stretch defenses and open up the run game. They have the talent to do it—returning receivers like Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas have experience, and younger players like Dillon Bell and freshman Nitro Tuggle could add speed and versatility. Additionally, the addition of Stanford transfer tight end Benjamin Yurosek gives Georgia another reliable target to pair with Oscar Delp. Still, it will take chemistry and aggressive play-calling to generate the kinds of explosive plays that separate good teams from national champions.
The run game, traditionally a strength of Georgia football, is another area that draws cautious optimism. Daijun Edwards returns as a steady veteran, and sophomore Roderick Robinson is expected to take on a bigger role. Georgia also welcomes incoming freshman Chauncey Bowens, who has earned rave reviews for his physicality and vision. The offensive line is experienced and deep, with Amarius Mims and Tate Ratledge anchoring the right side. Still, Connelly’s SP+ efficiency ratings show that Georgia’s rushing attack was less dominant last season than in previous years. There were fewer runs of 10+ yards, and the team occasionally struggled to convert in short-yardage situations. That has to change if Georgia wants to maintain balance and control the tempo against elite defenses.
Another point raised by Connelly and echoed by analysts across the sport is Georgia’s special teams, which were a mixed bag last year. While punter Brett Thorson provided solid field position management, the kicking game was inconsistent. Jack Podlesny’s departure left a void, and the Bulldogs rotated through options without finding a true answer. In 2025, they’ll need more stability in the kicking game, particularly in high-pressure moments. Field goals in tight games can decide playoff races. Fall camp will be critical in establishing a reliable kicking option and identifying playmakers in the return game.
Beyond personnel, coaching and scheme will also play a role in addressing Georgia’s concerns. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo enters his second season in this second stint, and while last year’s offense was efficient, it wasn’t feared. Georgia will need Bobo to find new ways to unlock Beck’s potential, particularly with tempo, motion, and play-action concepts. Connelly’s advanced metrics indicate that Georgia’s early-down efficiency was among the best in the country, but the Bulldogs occasionally bogged down in red-zone situations. Play-calling creativity and aggressiveness will be essential if Georgia hopes to keep pace with the SEC’s increasingly high-octane offenses.
On defense, co-coordinator Glenn Schumann returns to guide the unit with Kirby Smart’s oversight, and the expectation is that Georgia will return to its suffocating form. However, defensive versatility will be tested against the likes of Texas, Ole Miss, and a potential rematch with Alabama. Connelly has often praised Georgia’s ability to adapt schematically on defense, but notes that their success this season will depend on how quickly the new starters get comfortable and whether the defense can consistently create havoc—something that dipped in 2024 compared to previous years.
All of these concerns, while legitimate, are not fatal flaws. Rather, they represent the margin between being a top-5 team and a national champion. Georgia has the foundation, the coaching, and the depth to win it all. But as Bill Connelly’s evaluation highlights, the Bulldogs cannot rely solely on past dominance or reputation. Every team faces a natural cycle of renewal and challenge, and Georgia is no exception. The good news for Bulldog fans is that few programs are better equipped to turn potential weaknesses into strengths.
This fall camp, and the early part of the season, will reveal whether Georgia can shore up the issues that held them back last year. If the defense returns to form, the offense becomes more explosive, and special teams improve their consistency, then Georgia could very well be lifting another national championship trophy in January. But if those concerns go unaddressed or worsen under pressure, the Bulldogs may find themselves watching the playoff from home. For now, they are contenders. What they become over the next five months will depend on how well they tackle the challenges that Bill Connelly and others have wisely pointed out.
