“Two Key Questions That Could Define Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs Ahead of AP Preseason Poll and 2025 Season”

As the Georgia Bulldogs gear up for the 2025 football season, all eyes are on their head coach, Kirby Smart, as he faces a pair of crucial questions that could determine his team’s success or failure in the coming months. With the AP Preseason Top 25 Poll set to drop on August 11, 2025, Smart’s squad is positioned near the top of the rankings, but uncertainty looms over the quarterback position and defense.

First, there is the matter of replacing Carson Beck, the talented quarterback who has departed for a new challenge with the Miami Hurricanes. Beck’s departure leaves a massive void at the position, and Smart’s decision on who will be the starting quarterback for Georgia in 2025 is one of the most pressing questions hanging over the Bulldogs’ camp. Will it be Gunner Stockton, the highly touted former four-star recruit who flashed brilliance during Georgia’s Sugar Bowl victory, or will the competition intensify with freshman Ryan Puglisi nipping at his heels?

Then, there is the matter of Georgia’s defense. Known as a defensive powerhouse in recent years, the Bulldogs are facing a major turnover in their defensive ranks. Only three starters are returning from a unit that dominated college football just a season ago, leaving Smart with the daunting task of reloading a defense that has been the backbone of the team’s success in recent years. With concerns mounting about the pass rush and the overall consistency of the defense, Smart is hoping to foster new leadership within the group, particularly with sophomore linebacker Justin Williams, whom analysts have pegged as the next great defensive leader for the Bulldogs.

As Kirby Smart enters his ninth season as Georgia’s head coach, the questions surrounding his team’s ability to continue the momentum they’ve built in recent seasons could ultimately define their quest for another national title. The road ahead will be a difficult one, with SEC rivals such as Alabama and Texas standing in the way, but Smart’s leadership, along with the evolving identity of his team, will be key factors in determining whether Georgia can compete for a third national championship under his reign.

When Smart arrived at Georgia in 2016, the program was on the cusp of greatness, but it was still a few steps behind the elite teams of college football. Since then, he has transformed the Bulldogs into a juggernaut, capturing two national championships in 2022 and 2023. But with Beck gone and a young, unproven defense, Smart’s task of keeping Georgia at the top of college football is far from guaranteed. With the preseason polls indicating a strong showing for Georgia once again, the Bulldogs will have to prove that they can reload and stay ahead of the competition.

The first major question revolves around the quarterback position. Gunner Stockton, a player who has shown flashes of his immense potential, was expected to be one of the cornerstones of Georgia’s future. His performance in the Sugar Bowl, where he threw for 234 yards and led the Bulldogs to a dominant victory over the Baylor Bears, raised hopes for his future as the team’s starting quarterback. However, the transition from a limited role in one game to a full-season starter is always filled with uncertainty, particularly in a league as competitive as the SEC.

Stockton’s mobility has been a key talking point for Smart and the coaching staff. While Georgia’s offense in the past has been built around a strong running game, Stockton’s ability to extend plays with his legs could add another dimension to the Bulldogs’ attack. With the SEC featuring some of the most aggressive and talented defensive units in the country, the ability for a quarterback to move and create opportunities outside of the pocket is a vital asset.

Still, there are lingering doubts about Stockton’s consistency and ability to handle a full season of high-pressure games, especially against elite defenses like Alabama and Texas. While the Sugar Bowl performance was impressive, many analysts caution that one game, even a high-profile one, is not enough to draw definitive conclusions about a quarterback’s ability to lead a team through an entire season. The question now is whether Stockton can maintain that level of play week in and week out.

Adding to the complexity is the presence of Ryan Puglisi, a talented freshman who has the potential to challenge for the starting job. Puglisi, known for his strong arm and ability to push the ball downfield, offers a different skill set compared to Stockton. The competition between the two has been closely watched throughout spring and summer practices, and it will likely come down to which player can better execute Smart’s game plan and take command of the offense in critical situations. While Stockton appears to be the front-runner for the role, Puglisi’s emergence would shake things up and possibly push the competition into the season opener.

The second question surrounding Smart’s squad is the defense. For years, Georgia has been synonymous with elite defensive play. From dominant pass rushers like Azeez Ojulari and Travon Walker to lockdown cornerbacks such as Keeley Ringo, the Bulldogs have consistently fielded one of the most feared defensive units in college football. But the 2025 season will see Georgia without many of the stars who led the defense to national prominence.

With only three returning starters on defense, Smart will need to find new leaders and build chemistry quickly if Georgia is to maintain its defensive prowess. Analyst Josh Pate has raised concerns about the pass rush, which struggled at times in 2024, ranking 47th nationally in sacks. While the Bulldogs’ defense was still one of the top units in the nation, it wasn’t quite the same juggernaut that had terrorized opponents in previous seasons. If Georgia hopes to compete with the likes of Alabama, Texas, and other SEC powers, Smart will need to find a way to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback.

One of the players Smart is counting on to step up is sophomore linebacker Justin Williams. Williams, a former five-star recruit, has all the physical tools to be a dominant force on defense. Analysts have pegged him as one of the rising stars of the SEC, and Smart is grooming him to be the anchor of the defense. The hope is that Williams, along with fellow linebacker Chris Cole, can provide the leadership and playmaking ability needed to help restore Georgia’s defensive dominance.

Beyond Williams, Georgia’s defense is filled with promising young talent, but it will take time for these players to develop and gel as a cohesive unit. The Bulldogs are hoping that their veteran leadership on offense, combined with an influx of new defensive stars, will help maintain the high level of play that has become synonymous with Georgia football.

Heading into the 2025 season, Georgia finds itself in an interesting position. The Bulldogs are coming off two national championships and are expected to compete for a third. However, with a new quarterback and a young, unproven defense, there are more questions than usual surrounding the team. If Smart can successfully navigate these challenges, Georgia will once again be a national contender. If not, the Bulldogs could face an uphill battle in a loaded SEC.

The AP Preseason Top 25 Poll will offer an early glimpse into how the Bulldogs are perceived heading into the season. With Texas receiving more votes than Georgia in the SEC media poll, Smart will face added pressure to prove that his team is still among the elite in college football. As always, the mantra Smart instills in his players—“fire, passion, energy”—will be tested once again. The 2025 season will ultimately come down to whether Georgia can answer these two key questions and continue its quest for dominance in the SEC and on the national stage.