With Georgia preparing to host No. 17 Alabama in a top-20 SEC showdown at Sanford Stadium on Saturday night, head coach Kirby Smart finds himself once again at the center of college football’s spotlight.
The No. 5 Bulldogs are seeking to reaffirm their place among the nation’s elite while battling the one program that has long served as their toughest measuring stick. This high-powered SEC matchup will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and be televised on ABC.
Kirby Smart Nearly Leaving for SEC Rivals
Smart’s path to Athens wasn’t always certain. He revealed this week just how close he came to leading another SEC program earlier in his career.
He was a finalist for the Auburn head coaching job in 2013 before the Tigers ultimately hired Gus Malzahn. At the time, Auburn officials were hesitant to wait for Smart, who had committed to stay on as Alabama’s defensive coordinator through the BCS title game. “It was really close at Auburn,” Smart admitted while speaking with On3, adding that his wife, Mary Beth, even bought an orange tie in Auburn’s colors as they prepared for the possibility.
Smart was also offered the South Carolina job in 2015 before Mark Richt’s dismissal opened the door for him to take over at Georgia. Reflecting on those moments, he noted the pressure that comes with coaching at one’s alma mater, “It’s not like, ‘Oh well, he’s one of us,’ if you don’t win.”
HC Kirby Smart’s Relentless Drive for More
Since taking over at his alma mater a decade ago, Smart has transformed Georgia into a modern powerhouse. His resume includes back-to-back national championships in the year 2021 and 2022, three SEC titles, and four College Football Playoff appearances. Yet despite his dominance, the 49-year-old insists he isn’t focused on past accomplishments.
“I’m just one of those people who’s never going to look at what we’ve done. It’s what can we still do,” Smart said, underscoring his relentless approach. That attitude has been critical in keeping Georgia hungry even after climbing the mountaintop.
NEW: One dominant decade is hardly enough for Kirby Smart and Georgia🐶
“I’m just one of those people who’s never going to look at what we’ve done. It’s what can we still do.”
Georgia’s head coach says the hunt is far from over.
(via @clowfb)
Story: https://t.co/6lrZFxVbgL pic.twitter.com/qKGrI2pc3a
— On3 (@On3sports) September 24, 2025
Georgia’s Defensive Concerns and SEC Play
While Georgia’s defensive tradition has been central to its success, Smart acknowledged recent struggles in generating pressure. Through three games, the Bulldogs have recorded just four sacks. He explained this was partly due to the competition level and circumstances.
Against Tennessee, the Bulldogs were playing from behind in a hostile environment. At home, early matchups against Marshall and Austin Peay didn’t provide reason to show much on tape to SEC opponents.
During the league’s weekly press conference, Smart also discussed the new SEC scheduling model. While some fans see annual rivalries gaining more weight, Smart took a pragmatic view.
“It doesn’t matter how you do the schedule; it’s hard. It’s brutal. And everybody’s the same. I mean, we all gotta play each other. It’s really tough, highly ranked teams, physical teams. It’s just going to continue to be a grind.
“I mean, looking forward with the nines coming, it’s going to be scary because you just don’t have enough. Nobody has enough depth. I guess that really don’t answer your question…I think if it was a playoff system like the NFL or a larger percentage of the teams made it, there might be decisions we made early in the season differently, knowing that we gotta be at our best at the end.”
What’s at Stake Against Alabama
Georgia’s track record against Alabama remains the one blemish on Smart’s otherwise sterling record. Since 2008, the Bulldogs have lost nine of the last 10 matchups to the Crimson Tide, including crushing SEC Championship defeats in 2012, 2018, and 2023. The lone breakthrough came in the 2021 National Championship Game, but Alabama has otherwise been Georgia’s stumbling block.
That’s what makes Saturday’s game so important. Beyond rankings, it’s about narrative. Smart has built Georgia into a juggernaut, but until the Bulldogs consistently beat Alabama, their dominance will always be questioned.
