Saban’s Absence Sets Stage for Epic Showdown: Georgia Coach Kirby Smart Weighs In on Highly Anticipated Alabama Matchup

Georgia vs. Alabama without Saban: Smart’s thoughts News Report Washington, D.C. Mary Siddiqi Evening Edition Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart will face Alabama without Nick Saban for the first time since Saban retired. While some questioned how this would affect the game, Smart focused on upcoming games, not his former mentorAlthough Saban’s absence signals a shift in the rivalry, the two powerhouse programs are ready for another high-stakes clash.

Georgia vs. Alabama matchup without Saban: Fast facts:

• Nick Saban is no longer the coach at Alabama, having retired in January after winning seven national championships.
• Kirby Smart downplays significance of Saban’s absencefocusing on games.
• Smart stressed that Alabama and Georgia are different teams this year.
• Alabama’s current coach is Karen DeBoer, and Saban is an analyst for ESPN.
• The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide will face off this Saturday at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
• Smart recalled his time learning under Saban and their long-standing rivalry.
• Georgia has lost just two of its last 51 games, both to Alabama.
• Last year, Alabama defeated Georgia 27-24 in the SEC Championship Game, dashing the Bulldogs’ title hopes.

A closer look:

For the first time since taking over the Georgia Bulldogs, Kirby Smart will face an Alabama team not led by his former mentor and longtime rival Nick Saban.Saban is now retired and serves as ESPN’s College Game DaySmart no longer has to plan for his coaching opponents on the sidelines. While that may be a relief for Smart, he was careful not to acknowledge it, instead focusing on the two powerhouse teams that will face off on Saturday.

When repeatedly asked how it felt to face an Alabama team without Saban at the helm, Smart dodged the questions, making it clear the game was about the team, not the coach. “No, I don’t think it’s going to be weird,” Smart said Monday, noting it’s a natural progression for college football.

Still, Saban’s absence has had a significant impact on a rivalry that has dominated the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for nearly a decade. Since leaving Saban’s staff after the 2015 season to take the head coaching job at his alma mater, Smart has been driving Georgia’s growth, much like his former mentor did at Alabama. Saban left behind an unrivaled legacy when he retired in February, winning seven national championships, six of which came with the Crimson Tide.

While Smart downplayed the impact of Saban’s absence, he did admit that he respects and admires his former boss. Smart is happy that Saban is enjoying his post-coaching life. “I’m glad he’s getting the opportunity to do what he wants to do,” Smart said, adding that he’s glad Saban is still involved in college football in his new role as a broadcaster.

Saban’s absence didn’t erase the long-standing connection between the two. Smart worked under Saban for more than a decade as his defensive coordinator and learned from one of college football’s greatest minds. That mentor-student relationship shaped much of Smart’s coaching philosophy, and when he returned to Georgia, he quickly elevated the team to the top level of college football, a level that had long been dominated by Saban’s Alabama teams.

The two teams have faced off multiple times since 2017, each time for the championship. In his second season at Georgia, Smart’s Bulldogs won the SEC Championship but lost to Alabama in the national championship game, with the Crimson Tide eventually winning 26-23 in overtime. In the following years, Saban’s Alabama teams beat Georgia three more times, including two SEC championships and a regular season victory.

However, Smart eventually prevailed over Saban’s dominance. In 2021, Georgia defeated Alabama 33-18 in the national championship game.winning the Bulldogs their first championship in more than four decades. The win was a pivotal moment for Smart as his team finally overcame its biggest obstacle. Georgia has since won another national championship in 2022, firmly establishing the Bulldogs as a new powerhouse in college football.

Despite Georgia’s success, Alabama dealt its opponent one final blow last season. Although the Bulldogs finished the regular season 12-0 and were on track for their third straight national championship, Saban’s Crimson Tide eliminated Georgia from the College Football Playoff by defeating it 27-24 in the SEC Championship Game. As Georgia wide receiver Arian Smith admitted this week, the loss still stung in Athens. “We definitely have beef,” Smith said.

But Smart has been trying to keep his players focused on the present rather than the past, especially with Alabama now led by Kalen DeBoer. “We’re a different team. They’re a different team. They’re a different staff. We’re a similar staff,” Smart explained. He stressed that comparisons to last year’s game are meaningless because both teams have improved since they last played.

Saturday’s game will be Smart’s second trip to Tuscaloosa as Georgia’s head coach. His first trip was a 41-24 loss to Saban’s Alabama team in 2020, which won the national championship that season and was Saban’s last season before his retirement. Smart noted that it felt strange to return to Alabama during that pandemic year, especially since he has spent most of his coaching career in Tuscaloosa.

While Smart has carved out his own dynasty at Georgia, he has never fully escaped Saban’s shadow. He is 1-5 against Saban, with Georgia’s only two losses in the past 51 games coming to Alabama. Even though Saban is no longer coaching, his presence still lingers in the rivalry as he had a lasting impact on both programs and the many players who still wear the Alabama crimson jersey.

“Well, he’s recruited a lot of guys, and they’re all good players,” Smart said of Saban’s impact on Alabama’s current roster. But Smart quickly returned to his main point: Saturday’s game is about his players and the team’s opportunity, not about who’s coaching. “Any time you’re facing a really good team, a really good team in college football, it’s a challenge,” Smart said. “I really think this is a great opportunity for our kids, for our team, to be on a national stage.”

Smart then ended the conversation, making it clear that while the media may focus on Saban’s absenceAfter that, he and his team are focused solely on what happens on the field this Saturday.

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