Even Nick Saban has never done what Kirby Smart just did.

Nick Saban, the former head coach of Alabama, is considered the best in college football. Kirby Smart is trying to get a hold of the best college head coach in history.

Smart has a long way to go before catching up to Saban, who won seven national titles in his career. There are other ways, though, for Smart to start getting close to Saban’s level and start talking about being on the same page as him. In actuality, Smart just last week achieved something that Saban could never do.

Repeated participation in SEC Championship games

After an exciting day filled with SEC upsets, Georgia football secured its place in the 2024 SEC Championship game this past weekend. They have now qualified for the title game four times in a row, something Saban was never able to accomplish.

Saban only made it to the SEC Championship game three times in a row, which he did once between 2014 and 2016.

In addition to making it to the championship game four times in a row, Smart and Georgia had done so seven times in the previous eight seasons. After missing a year of the SEC Championship game, Georgia has now eclipsed all of Saban’s accomplishments. UGA also made it from 2017 to 2019 to match the record set by Saban and Alabama.

The best part of this run was that Georgia succeeded in the first year after the SEC’s divisions were eliminated. Everyone always started off by saying that the only reason UGA was able to host all of these title games was because the East division was so weak in comparison to the West. However, by reaching the title game in the first year after the divisions were eliminated, Georgia disproved that claim this season.

To ever be in the same conversation as Saban, Smart has a long way to go. However, there is no denying that he is headed in that direction, and this record is one factor that will enable him to catch up to Saban. In order to catch Saban, Smart needs to bring more national titles to Georgia, so let’s hope he does.

Kirby Smart Provides Four Crucial Updates on Georgia Football Injuries

Georgia football is just one game away from postseason play, making it crucial for the team to focus on getting as healthy as possible. The Bulldogs’ injury report for their recent game against UMass was extensive, likely due to head coach Kirby Smart being cautious, knowing the team didn’t need to be at full strength for the matchup.

During his Monday press conference, Smart addressed the injuries and shared four significant and encouraging updates ahead of this weekend’s rivalry game against Georgia Tech.

Wide Receivers Dillon Bell and Anthony Evans

Smart began by discussing receivers Dillon Bell and Anthony Evans. Bell, who injured his ankle in the win over Tennessee, has been sidelined since. His absence was notable as he had stepped in at running back to help cover injuries at that position. Meanwhile, Evans, who returned from a hamstring issue during the Tennessee game, was held out against UMass, likely as a precaution.

Despite missing the UMass game, Smart indicated both players are expected to return against Georgia Tech. “I think both are going to be good to go and be able to help us,” Smart said, noting he’d know more after Monday’s practice.

Running Backs Branson Robinson and Roderick Robinson

Georgia’s depth at running back has been thin, with Nate Frazier carrying much of the load while others recover. Branson Robinson and Roderick Robinson have been sidelined for an extended period but are showing progress.

“They’re going to do more today than they have,” Smart shared. Both were seen working out publicly before the UMass game, marking a significant milestone in their recoveries. While it’s unclear if they’ll be ready to play against Georgia Tech, there’s optimism they could be back in action by the College Football Playoff.

As the postseason approaches, these updates bring hope for the Bulldogs to regain key players and bolster their roster for the critical games ahead.