Following their well-deserved bye, the Georgia Bulldogs may have to start their College Football Playoff journey without starting quarterback Carson Beck.
According to Zach Klein of WSB in Atlanta, Beck suffered a UCL injury during the SEC Championship Game against Texas.
Klein states that the concerning injury is expected to rule Beck out of the Sugar Bowl.
Beck suffered the injury on the final play of the first half against the Longhorns.
All things considered, backup quarterback Gunner Stockton played brilliantly in Beck’s absence as he helped lead the Bulldogs to the dramatic 22-19 overtime victory.
With the win, Georgia clinched the No. 2 seed in the College Football Playoff and will await the winner of Notre Dame-Indiana in the Sugar Bowl quarterfinal matchup.
The extra preparation time will be key for Georgia as they adjust to the potential absence of Beck.
With respect to the Hoosiers and the phenomenal season they’ve had, Notre Dame is widely expected to win their playoff matchup.
The Fighting Irish are a physical, run-heavy offense led by quarterback Riley Leonard and running back Jeremiyah Love.
If Marcus Freeman’s team does advance on to play Georgia, the Bulldogs may be in trouble if Beck is indeed ruled out.
Georgia’s defense, long a cornerstone of the team under head coach Kirby Smart, remains one of the best in the country.
However, the absence of Beck could place significant strain on the Bulldogs’ offense.
Stockton, who completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards in relief against Texas, may need to step up in a big way.
Without Beck’s arm to stretch defenses, opponents are likely to focus on shutting down Georgia’s ground game, led by running back Trevor Etienne.
This could force Stockton to carry the offensive load, a tall order against an elite opponent.
It’s important to note that the severity of Beck’s injury has yet to be officially confirmed.
Despite the reports, Georgia has not ruled him out of anything. However, all signs suggest that Smart and company are preparing for the worst. (As they should be.)
What are your thoughts on Klein’s report?
Will Georgia’s hope for a national title fall on Gunner Stockton???
