In the world of college football, few comparisons stir as much debate as that between Kirby Smart and Nick Saban. Lane Kiffin asserts that Kirby Smart has become the closest resemblance to Saban among contemporary coaches. However, there's one noteworthy caveat: Smart has yet to achieve significant victories against Saban’s Alabama team.
The past connects Kiffin and Smart, as both served as assistants on the Alabama coaching staff during overlapping tenures in 2014 and 2015. Now, they find themselves at the helm of their respective programs, with Kiffin as the head coach of Ole Miss and Smart bringing success to Georgia, his alma mater.
This week, fans can look forward to a thrilling confrontation as the Rebels prepare to clash with the Bulldogs in a high-stakes matchup featuring two top 10 teams. Speaking ahead of this highly anticipated game, Kiffin reflected on Smart's achievements at Georgia, drawing a parallel to Saban’s coaching style and success. "He’s done it for a longer period and has excelled greatly," Kiffin remarked, highlighting Smart's transformative impact on Georgia's football program.
Kiffin elaborated that Smart took over during a challenging period for the Bulldogs. "When he first joined Georgia, the team wasn’t performing up to their standards. He revamped their offensive strategy, and ever since then, they’ve been on an upward trajectory, mirroring the very success that Saban built at Alabama,” he explained.
Kiffin boldly stated, "People often discuss what aspects coaches take away from Saban, but I believe Kirby Smart embodies Nick Saban in nearly every respect—the way he conducts himself, his coaching philosophy, and the whole structure of his team. It’s clear that this approach has paid off for him, particularly against everyone else except for Alabama."
Taking the reins at Georgia in 2016, Smart has curated an outstanding record of 110 wins and just 20 losses. This remarkable achievement includes leading the team to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, as well as reaching the College Football Playoff four times.
In contrast, Kiffin has yet to secure a national championship or earn a place in the Playoff since leaving Alabama in 2016 for a head coaching role at Florida Atlantic. After three fruitful seasons there, he moved to Ole Miss in 2020, where he has built a competitive program with three 10-win seasons over five years.
As the upcoming matchup approaches, Ole Miss enters the game with an undefeated 6-0 record, while Georgia has one loss—suffered at the hands of none other than Alabama. Moreover, Kiffin's Rebels are coming off a comfortable 28-10 victory over the Bulldogs from last season, and they will strive to repeat that success when they meet Smart again this Saturday.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Do you think Smart can finally overcome Saban's Alabama and establish himself as the premier coach in college football, or is Kiffin onto something when he states that Smart closely mirrors Saban yet falters against him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
