Three games into the 2026 season, Georgia looks like exactly what Kirby Smart wants his program to be.
The Bulldogs are 3-0, ranked No. 2 in the country, and have already shown dominance on both sides of the football. Georgia has scored 59.3 points per game while allowing just 13.3, making the Bulldogs one of the most complete teams in college football.
And now the question is getting louder:
Could Georgia be the team to beat for the national championship?
Gunner Stockton Looks Amazing
At the center of Georgia’s dominance is quarterback Gunner Stockton.
The fifth year quarterback has been outstanding through the opening three games, leading the nation in passing efficiency with a ridiculous 259.3 rating. Stockton has completed 38 of 45 passes for 583 yards and nine touchdowns, while also adding 97 rushing yards.
His performance against Western Kentucky was especially impressive.
Stockton threw five touchdown passes, tying a Georgia school record, as the Bulldogs cruised to a 70-20 victory. Georgia jumped out to a 49-0 halftime lead, and Stockton only needed five possessions to help put the game away.
Then, against Arkansas in Georgia’s SEC opener, Stockton continued to make plays with both his arm and legs. He threw for 147 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 97 yards, including a 62 yard run.
This isn’t simply a quarterback managing games.
Stockton is making explosive plays, taking care of the football and giving Georgia another dimension offensively.
The Dawgs Are Barking on Defense
But as impressive as the offense has been, the defense may be what makes Georgia truly dangerous.
The Dawgs are barking on defense.
Georgia held Arkansas to just 17 rushing yards in its 45-17 SEC opening victory. Through three games, the Bulldogs are allowing only 45.7 rushing yards per game and 13.3 points per game.
That’s the identity Georgia has built under Kirby Smart.
You can have an explosive offense. You can have a quarterback putting up video game numbers. But if you’re going to win championships in the SEC, you have to be able to stop people.
Georgia is doing exactly that.
The Bulldogs also return eight defensive starters, including standout defensive backs KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson IV, giving Smart plenty of experience to work with on that side of the ball.
Kirby Smart Is Doing What Kirby Smart Does
Then there is Kirby.
Smart has already won two national championships at Georgia, and his career record with the Bulldogs now stands at 120-21. Georgia has also won its last 11 SEC openers under Smart.
But what stands out about this team is that Smart doesn’t appear interested in letting the hype get to his players.
Georgia entered the season with questions about how quickly its offense would develop and whether Stockton could take over as the unquestioned leader. Instead, the Bulldogs have answered those questions quickly.
That’s what Smart’s teams have become known for.
They are physical. They are disciplined. They develop players. And when the biggest games arrive, Georgia expects to be ready.
Could Georgia Be the National Championship Favorite?
There is still a lot of football left to play.
Georgia’s schedule gets considerably more difficult from here, and the SEC will provide plenty of opportunities for the Bulldogs to be tested. The next challenge comes against Oklahoma, followed by a schedule that will demand Georgia’s best football.
But based on the first three games, there are very few obvious weaknesses.
The Bulldogs have an elite quarterback.
They have a powerful running game led by Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens.
They have a veteran defense.
And they have Kirby Smart on the sideline.
That’s a dangerous combination.
Georgia isn’t simply winning games right now. The Bulldogs are overwhelming opponents, and that has put them firmly into the national championship conversation.
The Dawgs are barking. Gunner Stockton is rolling. Kirby Smart is doing what Kirby does. And Georgia looks like it could be one of the biggest problems standing between the rest of college football and a national championship.
