Kirby Smart hasn’t forgotten how to chase trophies. He’s just learned how to chase them differently. The two-time national champion head coach still wakes up every morning with one thing in mind – Winning it all. But in 2025’s chaotic new era, with a 16-team SEC, a live-wire transfer portal, and NIL offers flying like confetti. Smart knows the blueprint has changed. “I actually think that it’s a great thing when you win a 16-team SEC conference, and it’s probably one of the best years we’ve had in terms of winning games,” he said recently on The Paul Finebaum Show. He’s still aiming for the mountaintop—but now, he’s navigating a mountain that shifts beneath his feet.

And that brings us to the heart of the matter: Georgia’s real weapon isn’t NIL—it’s recruiting. Not flashy, not loud, but brutal in its precision. “Kirby Smart builds the program on the recruiting trail, right? That’s how you build championship teams,” said Dawg Post’s Dean Legge. While other programs lean hard on the portal like it’s an offseason Band-Aid, Georgia keeps digging trenches in high school gyms and living rooms. “A lot of programs are using the transfer portal as a revolving door. Kirby Smart and his staff, they bust their b—- on the recruiting trail to bring in guys who want to compete and play hard, who love Georgia, and are taking less money to come to Georgia when they’ve got bigger offers out there.”

The NIL hysteria may be dominating headlines, but Smart’s strategy is more long-term warfare than quick-strike cash grabs. Dean made that clear. “Georgia fans need to know who those players are because a lot of them are going to play and make a big impact for this team and this program for years to come. And you don’t want to be that guy or that woman who are, you know, watching the Dawgs and a big freshman makes a play and you’re like, ‘Who’s that guy? Who’s that guy?’” For Kirby Smart, culture beats currency. The Georgia Bulldogs are building their next wave from the ground up—even if it means missing out on a few headline names.

And they’ve missed a few. Jackson Cantwell choosing Miami stung. Jared Curtis, the No.1 QB of ’26, who once committed to UGA, drifted toward Oregon before doubling back to the Dawgs with a recommitment on May 5. But that’s not stopping Georgia’s engine. “Don’t let the Jackson Cantwells and the Justice Terrys—again, really just two guys that really ticked off a lot of Georgia fans—don’t let that stop you,” Dean emphasized. “I always say, you know, don’t hate the player, hate the game.” And it’s a wild game right now. “I do think we’re kind of at the peak of this era of recruiting in NIL… Coaches are saying, ‘Hey, we’ll basically treat you like an NFL player. We’ll put you on a one-year contract.’” But not Kirby. He’s selling loyalty, not loopholes.

Kirby Smart’s patience and vision are still producing results. Georgia currently holds nine commits in the 2026 class and remains a finalist for four-star athlete Tyriq Green, who also listed Florida State, Auburn, and Miami. More importantly, Georgia still holds elite positioning nationally. ESPN’s Bill Connelly recently ranked Georgia fourth overall in his SP+ metric, which blends recent recruiting, program history, and returning production.

The Bulldogs scored a 26.9, trailing only Ohio State (29.5), with Texas (26.4) and Michigan (21.5) rounding out the top five. These numbers don’t lie—they reflect sustainable excellence, not rental success. “And it is hard to do when you play seven or eight top-10 teams, which we were able to do,” Smart admitted. “But I really don’t get caught up in it. I love the expectation. I embrace that. I think that’s a good thing because if it’s not there, then what are you playing for, you know?” For Georgia, the standard isn’t slipping—it’s shifting.

King of the Dawgs, Kirby Smart, cracks top coaches list

Kirby Smart just added another feather to his already stacked cap. Earlier this week, The Athletic dropped its rankings of the top 25 college football coaches of the 21st century. Smart landed at an impressive No. 4, trailing only legends Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer, and his old boss, Nick Saban.

What makes this even juicier? Smart is the highest-ranked active head coach on the list. And according to insider Chris Vannini, this may just be the beginning. “He took the Alabama model to Athens and unlocked the potential Georgia always had,” wrote Vannini.

Since taking the reins in Athens back in 2016, Smart has done more than just win—he’s built a juggernaut. Georgia has become a perennial powerhouse, owning the college football spotlight with a ruthless defense, loaded recruiting classes, and the kind of culture other programs dream about.

Under Smart’s leadership, the Dawgs have claimed two National Championship titles and three SEC Championship trophies. In the process, he’s become the blueprint for what modern college football coaching success looks like.