3 ways Kirby Smart can eventually surpass Nick Saban as college football’s GOAT
By John Buhler
Time is undeniably on Kirby Smart’s side on his quest to surpassing Nick Saban as The GOAT.
Nick Saban is the greatest head coach in college football history, but his greatest protege Kirby Smart appears to have next.
While Saban has a chance to get to 280 career wins in college with a Sugar Bowl victory over Kansas State, Smart can get to 81 career wins if Georgia repeats as national champions. Though Saban built the greatest dynasty in college football history at Alabama, all good things must come to an end. Right now, Smart has Georgia firing on all cylinders to eclipse its Vince Dooley zenith.
It will take two decades, but here is what Smart must do to pass Saban as college football’s GOAT.
How Kirby Smart can surpass Nick Saban to be college football’s new GOAT
3. Sustain a 10-win program at Georgia for the next two decades or so
Regardless of if Georgia beats Ohio State in the Peach Bowl or either Michigan or TCU in the national championship, Smart is averaging over 11 wins a season at Georgia since taking over for Mark Richt in 2016. He has won at least eight games every year, won at least 11 games five times and has won at least 13 games three times. Simply, double-digit win seasons are now expected.
In theory, all Smart would have to do is average 10 wins a season for the next two decades to get to where Saban is in terms of all-time college football wins. Smart turned 47 years old last week, while Saban turned 71 years old on Halloween. Keep in mind Saban also spent six years coaching in the NFL and away from the college game with the Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins…
While Saban may have spent a year coaching the 1990 Toledo Rockets, he did not return to the college game as a head coach until resurfacing with the 1995 Michigan State Spartans at 44 years old. Smart already had three 11-win seasons at Georgia through his age-44 coaching season. Although getting past 280, and probably into the low 300s, will not be easy, Smart has the time.
Even in down years, Smart has built Georgia into a program that can win about 10 games annually.