When the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Tennessee Volunteers in overtime last month, it felt like 2022 all over again. Then in Athens, Alabama defeated Kirby Smart, marking his eighth career loss against them. Georgia’s dominance in the SEC was unsurprising; the Bulldogs were the ultimate team to beat. Yet, history has a way of humbling the mighty, as Alabama reminded everyone in Athens last month. Therefore, Kirby Smart put the Bulldogs’ backups under the microscope.

On October 10, Kirby Smart hopped onto the podium and talked about the Bulldogs’ backup and rookie squad, and what they missed against the Kentucky Wildcats. The host asked, “Kentucky game last week — what did you see out of those guys? How did you feel about what you saw? And what are the prospects for their growth and advancement?”

Kirby Smart kept it real: “Well, the best way to grow is to play in a game, because these players in the room will tell you, they all want an opportunity to play. They all believe they’re ready to play, and then they get that opportunity. The good thing about the Kentucky game is they left their starters in, so we got to see those guys go.”

Even though the #12 Georgia Bulldogs decimated the Kentucky Wildcats 35–14 in Week 6 of 2025, the secondary squad stole the limelight. Gunner Stockton had a typical Gunner Stockton-type game. The former five-star threw for 196 yards, completing 15 of 23 passes and a touchdown. He also added two rushing touchdowns on six carries. However, the backup, Ryan Puglisi, had an eerie day at the office.

He continued, “And some of them found out, you know, maybe they’re not ready, and maybe they do have work to do. Maybe they need to know their assignments a little better. A lot of it is not ability they lack — it’s the recognition of what’s happening fast enough.” Smart demonstrated how game time helps players see their progress and strive to work hard to improve their skill set.

The Bulldogs’ QB2, Puglisi, entered the game in the fourth quarter and threw an interception, which led to a late touchdown for the Wildcats. He had a 3-4 pass completion rate with 49 passing yards. Still, it didn’t matter in an ineffective performance. Even other Georgia backups like Elyiss Williams and some defensive pieces had struggled to catch up to the SEC game speed.

When they fall short, it lights a fire under them to practice harder. He said the key is repetition. Getting more reps at game speed to build confidence and understanding. Practice helps, but it can’t always match the speed and intensity of an actual game, so young players need to embrace hard work to become the next Tom Brady or Reggie White. Moreover, Smart also pointed out the upcoming battle and rivalry with the Auburn Tigers.

Kirby Smart weighs in on Hugh Freeze’s Auburn revival

The Georgia Bulldogs lock horns with the Auburn Tigers in Week 7 of the 2025 college football season. This game, known as “The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry,” will be played at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, and expect some fireworks. Georgia comes into this matchup ranked No. 10 with a 4-1 record, while Auburn is 3-2, losing its last two games on the road. Yet, Auburn’s mini-revival impressed Smart as he spoke about the talented team.

According to Kirby Smart, Hugh Freeze is doing a tremendous job on the Plains with recruiting and the transfer portal: “They’ve closed that gap, they’ve gone out in the portal, and they’ve gotten some players. They went and got a quarterback, they got wideouts that can play, they went and got depth on defense, and they got a linebacker from LSU. They’ve improved.”

With 20 solo tackles this year, Xavier Atkins breathes life into the Tigers’ defense after Freeze snagged him from the Sooners. Struggling with their offense, Jackson Arnold comes in with 846 passing yards, and deep-ball accuracy helped the Tigers pounce on their opposition. Wideout Eric Singleton Jr. has a huge role to play.

Therefore, coach Smart is right; the Tigers are back on track. “So it hasn’t resulted in the record just yet. But to go on the road and play those two teams they played — those are hard games. Those are really hard games. It could have gone either way in both of them. So you know, they’ve done a good job.” Hugh Freeze has a knack for picking out top talent in the portal.

Kirby Smart knows this isn’t the same Auburn team Georgia used to bully. Despite holding an eight-game win streak against them, Smart isn’t taking this game lightly: “They’ve gotten better, and all that streak stuff doesn’t matter. You got to go out and play the game. That’s the bottom line. I know how good this team is for them, and I also know how hard it is to play at this place.”

Get ready to see a slugfest between Kirby Smart and Hugh Freeze. It promises to be a blockbuster.