Georgia coach Kirby Smart sends stern warning to Ohio State before CFP

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart sent a warning Ohio State’s way before their College Football Playoff matchup.

Kirby Smart is ready to hunt some Ohio State Buckeye on Saturday night.

OSU serves as a tough first-round College Football Playoff matchup for UGA, as the Buckeyes have an elite offense with targets for C.J. Stroud all over the field. If Ohio State finds some footing offensively, look out. This could be a closer game than expected.

Of course, the Dawgs are favored, as they should be. Georgia has looked relatively flawless all year long, and have the best defense in the country, bar none. Smart has kept his team honest since the matchup was announced, but on Saturday, he sent a clear message.

“You have to come out swinging,” Smart told ESPN. “Hungry hunters – I think that’s the only way to hunt. You have to eat. I am sure Ohio State feels the same way.”

Kirby Smart, Georgia hungry for win over Ohio State

UGA is mid-dynasty, potentially, as back-to-back National Championships would put them in the same conversation as the Alabamas of the world. The Crimson Tide are nowhere to be found in this year’s CFP, as Nick Saban’s bunch had to settle for a Sugar Bowl matchup against Kansas State.

With the Bulldogs on the rise, and Alabama on a slight decline, this could be a changing of the guard moment in college football.

However, Smart knows nothing is guaranteed. Georgia didn’t play its best brand of football in the SEC Championship Game, and will need to be better on Saturday.

“We didn’t play our best game the last time we were out, but our offense picked us up,” Smart said. “We didn’t have the perfect SEC Championship Game, so we have things to work on.”

There’s always room for improvement in Athens, where they preach perfection.