Kirby Smart’s SEC recognition shows why Georgia remains built to last

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If there’s a program primed to build a college football dynasty, it’s almost certainly the Georgia Bulldogs. They won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, and they have remained in the title hunt ever since, reaching the College Football Playoff twice.

A major reason for that sustained success is the leadership of head coach Kirby Smart. In an era defined by NIL and transfer portal chaos, Smart hasn’t lost his edge. If anything, Georgia has become one of the nation’s most consistent recruiting powers because of his ability to attract, develop, and retain elite talent.

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USA TODAY recently released its SEC head coach rankings, and, unsurprisingly, Smart claimed the top spot.

“Smart doesn’t rule college football with the same authority he did a few years ago, but he retains clear superiority over his SEC peers. See Georgia winning three of the past four SEC championships. Smart’s ability to recruit, retain and develop talent remains a weapon, even in this era of transfer free agency. Georgia is still a perennial contender and built to last amid the sport’s constant state of evolution. That’s a credit to Smart.” Blake Toppmeyer wrote.

King of the South or King of CFB?

Smart may not only be the king of the SEC, he has a legitimate case as the best head coach in college football. Curt Cignetti has done remarkable work at Indiana, and Ryan Day continues to strengthen Ohio State’s position as a national powerhouse.

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Still, Smart has consistently delivered since his second season in Athens. He guided the Bulldogs to the top of the sport after the program suffered a heartbreaking loss in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Smart’s success extends beyond wins on Saturdays and dominance on the recruiting trail. He has also built one of college football’s premier NFL Draft pipelines, producing 21 first-round picks since taking over the Georgia program.

He still has ground to make up before matching his mentor, Nick Saban, who produced 47 first-round selections. However, few programs can match Georgia’s combination of elite talent, player development, and championship expectations. As long as Smart remains in charge, the Bulldogs should continue to contend for titles every season.

Will Kirby Smart soon become the king of college football?

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