National Analyst Chris Hummer Makes Bold Claim That Georgia Bulldogs Should Be Ranked No. 1 Team Entering 2025 College Football Season

Chris Hummer, a respected national college football analyst with 247Sports, has never shied away from bold takes, and this spring, he’s doubling down on one of the most significant statements of the 2025 offseason: Georgia should be the No. 1 team heading into the new college football season.

While debates over preseason rankings are as old as the sport itself, Hummer’s conviction stands out in a year marked by parity, high-profile quarterback transfers, and shifting conference dynamics. With programs like Michigan, Alabama, Texas, and Ohio State also jockeying for preseason supremacy, the Georgia Bulldogs are once again positioned squarely in the center of the championship conversation. And Hummer believes they’re not just in the mix—they’re the team to beat.

His logic is built on more than just reputation. Georgia, after falling just short of the College Football Playoff in 2024 despite an 11-win season, returns arguably the most complete roster in the nation. The Bulldogs boast continuity at quarterback, depth on both lines, elite-level skill talent, and what might be the best secondary in college football. With the expanded 12-team playoff format now in place, Kirby Smart’s team is in a prime position to reclaim its dominance after back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 and a near-miss in 2023.

Hummer’s endorsement centers on a few key areas: quarterback Carson Beck’s development, a nasty and experienced offensive line, and a defense stacked with future NFL players. “There’s no team with fewer holes,” Hummer said in a recent 247Sports appearance. “You’re talking about an experienced quarterback, one of the most physical offensive lines in the country, and a defense that reloads with five-stars like it’s a tradition.”

Beck’s return for another year under center may be the single biggest factor in Hummer’s projection. The veteran signal-caller put up gaudy numbers in 2024, throwing for over 3,900 yards and 27 touchdowns while completing more than 70% of his passes. But more importantly, he improved as the year went on—showing poise in high-pressure situations, including a clutch performance in the SEC Championship Game even though Georgia ultimately fell short against Alabama.

Now with another offseason under his belt, Beck enters 2025 as a Heisman Trophy contender and the most experienced elite quarterback in the SEC. His connection with returning weapons like tight end Oscar Delp and wideout Dillon Bell provides a sense of continuity that few other programs can match, especially those breaking in new starters or relying on transfers.

And while Beck may get the headlines, Hummer emphasizes that Georgia’s identity remains rooted in the trenches—where the Bulldogs continue to outmuscle and outdepth their opponents. “You win championships on the line of scrimmage,” Hummer noted. “And Georgia still has the most dominant interior line in college football.” That starts with a trio of returning starters on the offensive line, all of whom are potential first-round picks in 2026, and a defensive front anchored by freakishly athletic edge rusher Mykel Williams.

On defense, Georgia is restocked and reloaded. Safety Malaki Starks, a surefire All-American, is back to lead a unit that’s as fast and physical as any in the nation. The linebacker corps, which struggled at times with injuries last year, returns to full strength with the return of CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson. Hummer is particularly bullish on Georgia’s secondary, which he believes will be the best in the country. “There’s a reason NFL scouts are drooling over Georgia’s DBs,” he said. “They’ve got speed, length, and ball skills—and they know how to play Smart’s scheme to perfection.”

The analyst also doesn’t believe the Bulldogs will suffer from any sort of letdown or motivational dip, despite the emotional rollercoaster of missing the Playoff last year. If anything, he says, that loss has lit a fire inside the locker room. “That team believes it got robbed,” Hummer said. “And you better believe they’re coming into this year with something to prove.”

Georgia’s schedule, while challenging, is navigable, especially for a program with its depth. The Bulldogs face a key early-season test when they travel to Austin to face Texas, one of the few other programs being mentioned in preseason No. 1 discussions. Win that game, and Hummer believes Georgia will be in the driver’s seat for the top seed in the new 12-team Playoff. Other marquee matchups include home games against Tennessee and Ole Miss, plus a neutral-site showdown against Florida in Jacksonville. “They don’t have a cakewalk,” Hummer admitted. “But Georgia’s built for that kind of schedule.”

The Bulldogs will also benefit from the continuity of head coach Kirby Smart, who enters his ninth season at the helm and has transformed Georgia into the most consistent force in college football since Alabama’s peak under Nick Saban. Hummer argues that while programs like Michigan and Alabama undergo significant transitions—Michigan replacing Jim Harbaugh, Alabama replacing Saban—Georgia has remained a rock. “Stability is more valuable than ever in today’s game,” he explained. “And no one’s more stable than Kirby Smart.”

That stability also extends to recruiting and roster retention. Georgia’s 2024 recruiting class ranked No. 3 in the country, and the Bulldogs continue to dominate the transfer portal. While they lost some rotational players to the portal, they brought in immediate contributors at wide receiver and cornerback, solidifying already strong units. Hummer cited Georgia’s ability to both develop talent and supplement with key additions as a reason why they’re uniquely built for the long haul.

Critics of Hummer’s position point to the fact that Georgia missed the Playoff last year and struggled in red-zone situations during key games. But the analyst believes those are issues that will be addressed—and that Smart and his staff have earned the benefit of the doubt. “This is the best coaching staff in America,” he said. “You think they’re going to repeat the same mistakes? I don’t.”

Hummer’s bold proclamation hasn’t gone unnoticed. Fans across the country—especially those in Ann Arbor, Columbus, and Austin—have voiced their disagreement. Texas, fresh off a semifinal appearance and boasting the top returning offensive line in the country, is widely seen as Georgia’s top challenger for the preseason No. 1 ranking. Michigan, despite losing Harbaugh to the NFL, returns much of its defensive core. And Ohio State’s loaded roster, featuring former Kansas State quarterback Will Howard, is expected to make a serious run.

But for Hummer, none of those teams offer the full package Georgia does. “You can talk about individual units—maybe Texas has a better O-line, maybe Ohio State has more explosive receivers—but nobody’s got it all like Georgia,” he said. “If I’m picking one team to win the national title in 2025, it’s them.”

Ultimately, preseason rankings are just that—projections based on returning talent, coaching stability, and a dose of past performance. But when an analyst with the track record and reach of Chris Hummer speaks with this level of certainty, people listen.

Georgia fans, meanwhile, are embracing the expectations. For a program that has gone from hopeful to dominant under Kirby Smart, being No. 1 isn’t pressure—it’s the standard. And if Hummer is right, the Bulldogs may soon be hoisting their third national title in five seasons.

As college football enters a new era with the expanded playoff and changing conference landscapes, the sport needs a torchbearer—a program that combines tradition, talent, and toughness. According to Chris Hummer, that program is once again the Georgia Bulldogs. And he’s not hedging his bets.

“Other teams are chasing greatness,” he concluded. “Georgia already lives there.”