For over 12 weeks, college football eagerly awaits to witness which team will make the playoffs and claim the national championship. With the latter stretch of the 2025 season on the move, the playoff conversation has kicked into another gear, and Kirby Smart’s Georgia looks promising enough to enter the playoffs, sending 15 SEC teams into panic.

In a conversation with Joel Klatt, Chris Fallica weighs in on the Bulldogs’ chances to enter the New Year’s Bowl games. “I’m gonna go with Georgia, because of the mentality and the inability of teams to just kill this team,” says Fallica. The reason? Georgia is going 6-1 into the season, beating Tennessee, Auburn, and Ole Miss on their way.

The clash against the then No. 9 Georgia and No. 5 Ole Miss was a significant matchup in the playoff contention, and the Dawgs won it 35-43. Fallica continued. “I just have to trust the pedigree and everything that Kirby (Smart) has done there so far.” He continued. “….that, and I think that win was so massive because you’re probably going to beat Texas at home now. He got the Georgia Tech game in the dome in Atlanta.” Coming up next, Smart’s roster is scheduled to face off against Florida, Mississippi State, Texas, Charlotte, and Georgia Tech.

Although the loss against Alabama stung, Georgia’s recent wins and upcoming games might make it easier for them to enter the playoffs. Fallicia adds to his point, “Even if he don’t make the SEC championship game, which I don’t even know if they care about making it…but I think they’re going to be in the playoffs,” he added.

According to ESPN’s College Football Playoff Bubble watch post week 8, if the playoffs were today, Georgia would be a part of it. The Yellowjackets couldn’t find their name under ESPN’s list, while Texas is under the “Work to do” category. Behind Alabama and Texas Aggies, Georgia comes off with the third-best SEC championship odds, at -500.

Fallica adds, “And it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they’re playing January 19th. And it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Gunnar Stockton was in New York on the second Saturday.” Inexperienced Gunner Stockton, who stepped up after Carson Beck’s departure, sliced through all pre-season critique, shouldering the Dawgs’ offense. Over the season so far, he has thrown just one interception and 10 touchdowns for 1,553 yards, earning a QB rating of 91.0.

Following the win over Ole Miss, even Paul Finebaum is in awe.

Paul Finebaum on Gunner Stockton and Georgia’s CFP chances

Paul Finebaum, who once said, “I’d much rather have him (Carson Beck) than Gunner Stockton,” is in awe of the Georgia quarterback following a high-stakes win against the Rebels. And does not doubt his ability, moving on. He believes that Stockton can lead the Dawgs to the SEC title game and a playoff appearance.

“There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever that Gunner Stockton is the guy who can lead Georgia to an SEC championship, a College Football Playoff berth, and a run through the playoff based on what I saw yesterday,” the analyst said on the Matt Barrie Show. He continued. “For all the criticism that I and many others have directed at him and Mike Bobo, it was a pretty ingenious game plan as well. And Gunner Stockton was able to execute it.”

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Stockton’s remarkable comeback in the last fifteen minutes won many hearts. The Dawgs were trailing 35-26, but two touchdowns, including a 22-yard run, and a field goal later, Athens erupted in cheers, as Georgia edged out Ole Miss. Kirby Smart’s reaction? “The one thing we are, we’re hard to kill. We won’t go away.”

Stockton called it a great game, “I feel like we played hard,” he said post-game. “We are never out of it.” Now, they face another SEC foe, the Florida Gators, in their next game.