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When discussing college football, few names stand out more than Paul Finebaum and Kirby Smart. Finebaum, a prominent voice in college football analysis, has been known for his candid takes on everything from the SEC to individual teams and coaches. Kirby Smart, on the other hand, has etched his name into the annals of college football history with his remarkable success at Georgia, leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022. But while Smart’s Georgia teams have been the gold standard in recent years, Finebaum recently raised a critical issue that could potentially affect Georgia’s dynasty in 2025 and beyond.

In a recent segment, Finebaum expressed concern about a problem facing the Bulldogs under Smart’s leadership—one that might hinder Georgia’s dominance in the years to come. While it’s impossible to deny Smart’s success, Finebaum’s assessment suggests there could be looming challenges that could derail the program if not addressed soon.

The Problem Identified by Finebaum

Paul Finebaum’s critique of Georgia under Kirby Smart focuses on the program’s recruiting and development of quarterbacks. Despite Georgia’s unparalleled success in recent seasons, one area where they have yet to truly shine is at the quarterback position. In his segment, Finebaum suggested that this issue could become a serious roadblock for Georgia as they look to maintain their elite status in college football, especially in 2025.

For years, Georgia has been blessed with a dominant defense and powerful running game, two factors that have driven their success under Smart. However, when it comes to the quarterback position, the Bulldogs have been less consistent. While quarterbacks like Jake Fromm and Stetson Bennett were serviceable and capable, neither reached the elite level that can carry a team on their back in big moments, like the quarterbacks at schools like Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson.

Finebaum emphasized that as college football continues to evolve, elite quarterbacks will become even more crucial in determining a team’s championship potential. Teams with top-tier quarterbacks—those who can elevate their play when it matters most—are the ones consistently winning national championships, and it’s something that could potentially hold Georgia back as they look toward 2025.

The Evolution of College Football and Quarterback Play

There’s no denying that college football has changed significantly in recent years. The game has become more pass-heavy, with offenses evolving to take advantage of the most talented quarterbacks. While Georgia’s defense, under the leadership of Smart, remains one of the best in the nation, the need for an elite signal-caller is becoming more apparent.

Look at the most successful programs in recent years. Alabama, under Nick Saban, has had some of the best quarterbacks in the country, with Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young all leading the Crimson Tide to national championships or playoff berths. Ohio State, led by Ryan Day, has also had quarterbacks like Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud, who helped elevate their program to national prominence. Even Clemson, under Dabo Swinney, benefited from having a star quarterback in Trevor Lawrence to guide them to the top.

In contrast, Georgia’s offense has often relied on a game manager at quarterback—someone who can limit mistakes and let the defense and run game do the heavy lifting. While this formula has worked in recent years, especially with Stetson Bennett leading the Bulldogs to back-to-back titles, Finebaum’s concerns center around the future of this approach. As the quarterback position continues to become more crucial in modern college football, Georgia may find it more difficult to compete for championships if they fail to land and develop a truly elite quarterback.

The Next Era: Will Georgia Find a Star Quarterback?

As Finebaum pointed out, the real question for Georgia heading into 2025 is whether they can find a quarterback who can carry the team when needed. With Bennett gone, Georgia is set to start a new era at quarterback. Carson Beck, a highly touted recruit, is likely the frontrunner to take over as the Bulldogs’ starter. Beck has shown potential, but the key question remains whether he can develop into the type of star quarterback that Georgia has lacked in recent seasons.

Georgia has the talent to recruit top quarterbacks, but whether they can develop them at the same level as Alabama, Ohio State, or Clemson remains to be seen. Finebaum’s concern is that, without an elite quarterback, Georgia may struggle to maintain the level of success that Smart has achieved over the past several seasons.

One of the issues Georgia faces is that many top quarterbacks in recent years have chosen to play for schools with more established passing offenses or those that feature star quarterbacks who can showcase their skills in a high-flying system. While Georgia has built its identity around tough, physical football, the lack of an elite quarterback has limited their ability to fully dominate teams through the air. This is a challenge that could prove problematic as the landscape of college football continues to shift in favor of offenses that can score at will.

The SEC Arms Race

As Finebaum noted, the SEC remains one of the toughest conferences in college football, with a number of programs that are capable of winning national championships. Alabama, LSU, and even teams like Tennessee and Texas A&M are all building strong programs that could challenge Georgia for supremacy in the coming years.

In particular, Alabama remains a juggernaut in the SEC, and Nick Saban has shown no signs of slowing down. The Crimson Tide’s ability to consistently recruit elite quarterbacks gives them an edge over many programs. If Georgia cannot match that level of quarterback play, Finebaum believes that they may fall behind Alabama and other SEC rivals.

Conclusion: The Future of Georgia Football

While Finebaum’s critique might seem like a bit of a call to action for Kirby Smart and the Georgia program, it’s also a reminder that the future of college football is in constant flux. Programs that dominate one era can quickly find themselves on the outside looking in if they fail to adapt. Georgia’s reliance on defense and the run game has worked wonders for them in recent years, but as the game continues to evolve, the quarterback position may become the one thing holding them back from maintaining their place at the top.

The big question for Georgia moving forward is whether they can find a quarterback who can carry them to a third national title in 2025. If Smart can address this issue and develop an elite signal-caller, the Bulldogs could continue their dominance. But if they can’t, Finebaum’s warning may ring true: the problem facing Georgia’s program could keep them from staying on top for much longer.

In the unpredictable world of college football, it remains to be seen whether Georgia can find their quarterback of the future and continue their reign or if the rest of the SEC and the nation will eventually catch up. Either way, it will be a thrilling storyline to follow as 2025 approaches.