Paul Finebaum owns up to being 'stubborn' with his preseason hot takes on Georgia QB Gunner Stockton

ESPN and SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum doubted Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs and quarterback Gunner Stockton all summer long, but now he's ready to admit he was wrong.

“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,” Finebaum said during an appearence on ESPN's The Matt Barrie Show. “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.”

Despite not having any belief in Stockton at first, Finebaum still predicted that the Bulldogs would finished 10-2 because of their "weaker" schedule.

Georgia enters their second bye week of the season, 6-1 after taking down the Ole Miss Rebels, 43,35, last Saturday.

Stockton was even named SEC’s Offensive Player of the Week for Week 8 after he completed 26 of 31 passes for 289 yards, four touchdowns and zero interceptions in the win. He added another 59 yards and a score on the ground.

Kirby Smart never doubted Gunner Stockton from the beginning

Smart was listenining to Finebaum's hot takes throughout the entire offseason and taking mental notes. He even called him out for his comments on his own show.

It was one of the early ones where Finebaum had expressed skepticism about Georgia’s quarterback situation, pointing to Stockton’s underwhelming performance against the Fighting Irish as a major concern heading into the 2025 College Football season.

“I know the team coalesced around him after the SEC Championship Game,” Finebaum said. “But I was underwhelmed by what I saw from Gunner Stockton in the Sugar Bowl loss to Notre Dame. Kirby Smart has been steadfast in his support. He really doesn’t have another option until next year when the top recruit in the country comes in. So I’m not happy with what I see [with Georgia].” 

Finebaum said he had hoped Smart wasn’t tuning in during the busy offseason.

“I’m excited. Gunner got the message, man,” Smart said. “He got the message. You did your job.”