The college football world has long been dominated by the formidable figure of Nick Saban, whose Alabama Crimson Tide have become synonymous with winning, dominance, and an unyielding commitment to excellence. For years, fans, analysts, and even rival coaches alike have speculated about the inevitable departure of the greatest coach of his era and the seismic shift that would occur in college football once he stepped down.
But that change has not come. And when it finally looked like it might, with the rise of Kirby Smart, it became apparent that maybe the expected “torch-passing” moment wasn’t as straightforward as fans had hoped.
Kirby Smart, the former Alabama assistant coach, was seen as the heir apparent when he took over the Georgia Bulldogs in 2016. With a coaching pedigree rooted in one of the most successful programs in the country, it seemed only a matter of time before Smart would ascend to the throne as the new face of college football—one who would challenge Saban’s legacy and carry the SEC’s dominance forward. However, as of today, after several seasons of anticipation and hype, Smart’s tenure has been met with mixed results, and fans are left scratching their heads as to whether he can ever truly take the reins.
The Waiting Game
Ever since Smart took over at Georgia, the whispers began. “This is the guy who will eventually topple Saban.” “Kirby will be the one to continue the SEC’s reign at the top.” “He’s learned from the best.” With Saban’s legacy growing more immense by the year, the idea of Kirby Smart following in his footsteps became inevitable in the eyes of many. After all, he was Saban’s right-hand man for nearly a decade and seemed to inherit much of the same philosophy and methods.
In the early years of his coaching career, Smart showed promise—winning the SEC East in his second year, earning a national championship appearance in 2017, and consistently recruiting top-tier talent. The excitement grew, with fans looking to Smart as the future of Georgia football, and by extension, the future of college football. Surely, after Saban’s eventual departure, Smart would be ready to take on the mantle and continue Alabama’s success.
However, the years have passed, and the wait has only grown longer. While Smart’s Georgia team has been a consistent contender, and he has certainly built a program that’s regularly at the top of college football, the expectations placed on him as the natural successor to Saban have turned out to be a bit more complicated.
The Expectations Were Sky High
The high hopes surrounding Smart were not without justification. He inherited a strong program, and Georgia has been a recruiting powerhouse, often landing some of the best high school players in the country. Smart’s defense-first mentality, his emphasis on physicality, and his ability to attract elite talent created an atmosphere of optimism. The comparisons to Saban, who built Alabama into an unstoppable juggernaut, were inevitable.
Yet, despite all the hype, Smart has not yet fully lived up to the expectation of “taking over” the SEC the way many thought he might. Georgia has had its moments, certainly—most notably a national championship win in 2022. But the general trend has been one of inconsistency when compared to the sustained dominance that Alabama under Saban has exhibited over the past decade and a half.
When examining the landscape of the SEC, Smart’s Georgia teams have been up against more than just Alabama. LSU has had its own success, and teams like Auburn and even Florida have shown flashes of brilliance. In this environment, Georgia has sometimes struggled to maintain its supremacy, particularly when it comes to head-to-head matchups against Saban’s Alabama. While the Bulldogs have often been competitive, Saban’s team has still been the gold standard by which all other programs have measured themselves.
A Mixed Legacy of Success
Although Smart has had undeniable success in Athens, his tenure has been defined by two distinct elements: tremendous recruiting success and a series of near-misses on the big stage.
Georgia’s recruiting classes, which regularly rank near the top of the country, have not always translated into national championships. The Bulldogs came within a single play of winning the national title in 2017, only to fall short in a thrilling overtime loss to Alabama. Since then, Smart has continued to recruit at an elite level, but questions remain about his ability to guide his teams to the promised land with any degree of consistency.
The 2022 national championship win was a high point for Smart, but it came in a season where Saban’s Alabama was not at its absolute peak, and the Bulldogs’ win was in many ways more about their own program’s growth rather than a direct dethroning of Alabama. While the national championship was a significant achievement for Smart and Georgia, it did not immediately shift the balance of power in the SEC.
Now, several years after Smart’s arrival in Athens, the conversation about Saban’s future has only become more complicated. The legendary coach is still winning championships and maintaining his position at the top, while Smart, despite his success, continues to struggle in cementing his place as Saban’s successor.
Fan Reactions: 378K Voices of Doubt
As time has passed, a growing number of fans have begun to question whether Kirby Smart is truly the heir apparent that they had once envisioned. Recent polling and fan reactions across Georgia and the SEC reveal an increasing sense of frustration and doubt. One survey conducted by the Athens Banner-Herald in late 2024 found that 378,000 fans voiced dissatisfaction with Smart’s progress as head coach, citing the inability to consistently beat Alabama, the lack of further national titles, and an overall sense that Georgia’s program had plateaued under Smart’s watch.
This level of discontent represents a significant shift in the perception of Smart’s leadership. The once-loyal optimism has given way to pointed criticism, with fans questioning whether he can ever truly carry the flag in the way Saban has for Alabama. These sentiments have been reflected in local media coverage and fan discussions, which have grown increasingly skeptical of Smart’s ability to match the expectations placed upon him.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Redemption
While it may be premature to write off Kirby Smart as a failure, it’s clear that his tenure at Georgia has yet to fulfill the grand expectations placed upon him. The road ahead will be a challenging one, as he must continue to recruit at an elite level while finding a way to consistently perform on the biggest stage.
For Smart to truly take over the reins and shift the balance of power in college football, he will need to prove that his program can maintain its success without merely being a formidable challenger to Alabama but by actually surpassing the Crimson Tide in meaningful ways. Only then will he be able to silence the critics and live up to the monumental legacy that Saban has built.
Until then, the questions surrounding Smart’s ability to take over the reins of college football will continue to swirl. The waiting game isn’t over, and Georgia fans may have to endure more seasons of uncertainty before Smart can definitively claim his place as the successor to Nick Saban.
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