Analyzing why Georgia remains the most talented team heading into 2024

Georgia might have fallen short of a threepeat this season, but the Bulldogs remain a national championship contender looking ahead to 2024. In fact, On3‘s Jesse Simonton has them ranked No. 1 in his way-too-early top 25.

Simonton joined Andy Staples on his podcast Tuesday to explain his reasoning. He argued that Georgia still has the most talented team in the country, beginning with returning quarterback Carson Beck.

“The key for Georgia is when you look at these 10 teams in the top 10 that I have, they probably feel the best about their quarterback,” Simonton said. “Texas likes Quinn Ewers. Jaxson Dart at Ole Miss. Drew Allar, Penn State. But I think Carson Beck, him coming back and announcing that decision to return for 2024.

“I’m here at the coaches convention. Folks still believe that’s the best roster 1-85. They believe based on some of the guys that entered the portal and some of the guys that didn’t that Georgia did a really good job when push came to shove of who they were able to keep in Athens for next season.”

Beck led Georgia to a 12-0 finish in the regular season to reach the SEC Championship Game appearance. Although the Bulldogs ended up losing that game to Alabama and missed the College Football Playoff, they went on to a dominant 63-3 win against Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Beck put up respectable numbers this season to complete 72.4% of his passes for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. He had the option to enter the NFL Draft but decided instead to return to Athens for one more championship run.

Georgia also has several other big names set to return for 2024. That includes receiver Dominic Lovett and tight end Oscar Delp. Additionally, the Bulldogs made a splash in the portal by bringing in Florida running back Trevor Etienne and Vanderbilt receiver London Humphreys.

With the College Football Playoff set to expand to 12 teams next season, it won’t require a perfect record for Georgia to make it either. Even with a tough nonconference schedule and game against Texas, the Bulldogs have enough talent to deserve the No. 1 spot.

“The key for the Georgias, Alabamas and even the LSUs, you’re gonna be afforded a mulligan or two, ” Simonton said. “That’s why these schedules are gonna be so awesome in terms of some of the nonconference games. Georgia opens with Clemson. They also play kind of an up-and-coming Georgia Tech team. Obviously, Alabama has the game with Wisconsin. LSU has two huge games — UCLA and USC.

“A 10-2 team could still make the Playoff from the SEC and then it’s gonna be about your depth. When you’re talking about these teams having to play 17 games, Georgia’s depth on the aggregate is typically going to win out.”