What Georgia football needs to do in 2025 to prevent another “down” year

As the Georgia Bulldogs continue to build on their recent success under head coach Kirby Smart, the question looms: can they maintain their dominance and avoid a “down” year in 2025? Georgia football has been at the pinnacle of college football in recent years, with a National Championship victory in 2022 and strong playoff appearances since then. However, maintaining that level of excellence is an ongoing challenge, and ensuring that the Bulldogs remain a contender in 2025 and beyond will require careful planning, development, and execution.

The road to avoiding a “down” year isn’t an easy one, especially when expectations are sky-high. Georgia is currently viewed as one of the most consistently elite programs in college football, with some even considering them the standard for success in the SEC and the nation. The Bulldogs will need to address a variety of key areas to remain competitive at the top level of the sport. In this article, we will explore what Georgia football must do to avoid a “down” year in 2025, from recruiting to player development, coaching, and even adjusting to changing dynamics in the SEC.

1. Recruiting and Player Development: The Bedrock of Georgia’s Success

One of the main reasons Georgia has been able to maintain a position of dominance in college football is its outstanding recruiting efforts. Under Kirby Smart, the Bulldogs have consistently brought in top-tier recruiting classes, often ranking among the best in the nation. However, the key to Georgia’s sustained success lies in their ability to not just recruit well, but also develop talent year after year.

Maintaining Top-Tier Recruiting Classes

To avoid a “down” year, Georgia must continue its tradition of recruiting elite talent. The Bulldogs must not just focus on bringing in five-star recruits, but also continue to find hidden gems in four-star and three-star players who can develop into key contributors over time.

With elite recruits like Arch Manning, Ellis Robinson, and others possibly entering the program in 2025, Georgia will need to ensure that the transition from high school to college football is as smooth as possible. The transition is especially critical for positions such as quarterback, where Georgia has had to deal with leadership changes in the past few years. A smooth integration of new talent will allow Georgia to remain competitive across all positions.

Player Development: Beyond Recruiting Rankings

While recruiting is crucial, player development is just as important for ensuring Georgia’s continued success. Even with the best recruits, the Bulldogs will only avoid a down year in 2025 if they develop those players into college stars. Kirby Smart’s staff must continue to focus on coaching fundamentals and bringing out the best in players, regardless of their star rating.

For instance, Georgia has consistently had a strong defensive line, and many of those players go on to play in the NFL. This success didn’t happen by accident—Georgia’s ability to develop elite pass rushers and disruptive defensive players has been a key factor in its dominance. The same focus on developing depth in other position groups, such as the wide receiver and offensive line positions, is crucial for avoiding a step back in 2025.

2. Addressing Offensive Growth: Filling Gaps and Maximizing Efficiency

As dominant as Georgia has been defensively, the offense has also played a major role in its success. In order to avoid a down year in 2025, Georgia must continue to develop its offensive game to keep pace with the high-scoring offenses emerging across the country, especially in the SEC.

Quarterback Development: A Critical Position

Quarterback play has been a focal point for Georgia football, and it will continue to be one of the most important areas of focus in 2025. Following the departure of Stetson Bennett, who led the team to back-to-back National Championships, Georgia faces the critical task of replacing him. Carson Beck, who has shown potential as a quarterback, will likely be expected to step into a starting role. However, the ability to develop young quarterbacks such as Brock Vandagriff or Gunner Stockton could prove pivotal if they end up taking the reins.

The challenge for Georgia is not only to find a capable quarterback but also to adapt the offense to suit the strengths of the new quarterback. Whether it’s improving the passing game or making use of more dynamic dual-threat options, Georgia must ensure that they don’t simply rely on running back dominance. The ability to throw the ball effectively—both in short-yardage and long-distance situations—will allow Georgia to keep pace with other high-scoring teams in the SEC and nationwide.

Wide Receiver and Passing Game: Establishing Consistency

While the Georgia running game has been elite in recent years, particularly with Brock Bowers and Kenny McIntosh, the Bulldogs must ensure that their wide receiver corps continues to improve. The passing game must become a more consistent threat, allowing Georgia’s offense to diversify and become less predictable.

Georgia’s receivers must continue to improve, and it’s essential for players like Ladd McConkey and Arian Smith to step up as key playmakers. The Bulldogs must also recruit and develop additional talent in the receiver room to provide more options for their quarterbacks. This will keep opposing defenses honest, creating opportunities for both the ground game and passing attack to thrive.

3. Defense: Sustaining Excellence and Overcoming Departures

Georgia’s defense has been the backbone of the program’s success in recent years, and it’s crucial that they maintain that elite standard to avoid a drop-off in 2025. While Kirby Smart’s defense is known for its suffocating pass rush and ability to stop the run, the Bulldogs will need to work hard to replace several key players on defense and maintain their physicality.

Replacing Key Defensive Players

In recent years, Georgia has seen a number of key players from its defense move on to the NFL, including standouts like Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Kelee Ringo. These departures leave significant gaps in the lineup, particularly in the trenches and in the secondary. For Georgia to remain competitive in 2025, their defensive line will need to continue producing elite pass rushers, and the secondary must maintain its status as one of the top units in the country.

Developing players like Jalon Walker and Smael Mondon into leaders on defense will be crucial, as will identifying potential breakout stars in the secondary, such as Malaki Starks. The ability to reload and maintain the same level of intensity will be key to Georgia’s success, and Kirby Smart has consistently shown the ability to keep his defense operating at a championship level.

Adjusting to Changes in Offensive Trends

The landscape of college football continues to evolve, with offenses becoming more innovative and spread-oriented. In response, Georgia’s defense must evolve as well. While the Bulldogs have traditionally been known for their stout run defense and ability to rush the passer, they must remain adaptable to counteract the growing air raid offenses in the SEC and across the nation. This may involve increasing the emphasis on pass coverage and developing more versatility in the defensive backfield.

4. Special Teams: The Often-Overlooked Factor

Special teams are often overlooked in the discussion of a team’s success, but they play a critical role in determining a program’s performance over the course of a season. In Georgia’s case, the kicking game and return units must remain consistent in 2025.

With Jack Podlesny graduating, Georgia will need to find a reliable kicker to handle field goals and extra points. Special teams coverage and the ability to return kicks effectively will also be important. A well-timed return or a key field goal can make the difference between a win and a loss in tight games, especially in the competitive SEC.

5. Navigating the SEC and the Playoff Picture

Finally, Georgia must continue to handle its business in the SEC. The conference remains one of the most competitive in college football, with teams like Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee constantly vying for supremacy. The Bulldogs must remain sharp throughout the regular season, especially as they face tough conference matchups that could affect their playoff positioning.

Managing the SEC Championship Game and potential playoff appearances will require Georgia to peak at the right time and stay healthy throughout the year. The Bulldogs must also avoid the pitfalls of complacency, something that can occur when a program has achieved sustained success. Every game matters, and the margin for error is slim when trying to make the College Football Playoff.