The Georgia Bulldogs earned a program defining signature victory on Saturday night at Bryant-Denny Stadium, beating the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa for the first time since 2007. It was the first regular season win over Alabama for Kirby Smart in his entire coaching career.

Coming out of the game, folks can say what they want to about some controversial officiating and it would be fair, but the reality is that Georgia was the better team this weekend and that is why they won the game. And no one was better on that field than Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton, who was absolutely sensational from start to finish. 

Dwight Phillips Jr. got a ton of the attention and rightfully so after this one for a heroic performance, but Stockton was absolutely surgical both with his arm and his legs.

The Dawgs did not ask anything out of Stockton he could not handle and though he only threw it 22 times, he was sensational when he put the ball in the air. Completing 18 of his attempts, he was at his best on the must have third down situations, finishing 9 of 10 on third down.

Making big time throw after big time throw, Stockton did not shrink from the moment and got even better as the game went on as Alabama simply had no answer for the way Georgia was getting it done in the biggest moments of the gam.

There may be other quarterbacks with more arm talent, more speed and playmaking ability, but Stockton is as good as it gets when it comes to football IQ and doing what it takes to win a football game. Making plays when they are needed, delivering accurate balls on a wet night and finding the open receiver when yards are at a premium, he was simply the best player on the field on Saturday night.

Moving forward, this Bulldogs team is strong enough to win a national title precisely because Stockton is at his best in the big moments like this. To win a championship, plays like he made all night are needed, and there's no reason to question anymore whether or not he is capable.

Stockton likely will not get the shine when folks discuss the best quarterbacks in the nation, but he doesn't need it. Georgia would not trade their guy for anyone, and he continues week after week to prove why.