Kirby Smart isn’t spilling all the details, but the message is loud and clear. After LB Smael Mondon and OL Bo Hughley were arrested on traffic-related charges, Georgia’s HC made one thing clear — there are consequences. Instead of just bench time, Smart revealed a new twist: players who slip up off the field could feel it in their wallets. How? Fines are handed down straight from the program’s NIL collective. It’s discipline with a modern edge. And Smart’s not afraid to use it.

Speaking to Dawgs247, the Georgia HC revealed a powerful NIL tactic being used to keep players in check. “Our Classic City Collective for over a year has been substantially fining guys for those things,” said Smart. “That’s not something that’s new. That’s something that has been going on that’s outside of my jurisdiction, and they decided to do and implement and have done [so] to a considerable amount. We’re searching and trying to find the best ways.” Now, Kirby Smart just dropped a five-figure bombshell — and it’s shaking up the college football world.

Smart just lit a fire under the NIL world. On May 29, in a conversation with Yahoo! Sports, the Georgia head coach exposed a recruiting tactic that’s raising eyebrows across the country. According to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger, Smart revealed that some collectives are locking in high school recruits with jaw-dropping deals — up to $20,000 a month. However, the twist? If a player backs out, they’re expected to pay it all back. It’s big money. No rules. High stakes. And Smart isn’t afraid to call it what it is — a dangerous game in an unregulated market.

Simply put, Kirby Smart’s bombshell just added fuel to the NIL fire. It’s a twist of irony — a Power Four coach calling out the very system his program thrives in. We know smaller schools have long accused the big dogs of poaching recruits with massive NIL deals. Now, Smart is echoing the concern. His words highlight a deeper issue: growing frustration with a chaotic, unregulated NIL landscape. And the uncertainty isn’t going away. According to Ross Dellenger, some schools are offering recruits third-party NIL guarantees, without even knowing if the new Deloitte-led clearinghouse will greenlight them. Smart calls it what it is: a risk. One that could blow up in defaulted contracts. Until the House v. NCAA settlement drops, this might just be the new normal.

The House v. NCAA settlement is set to shake up the Power Four as we know it. But first, it needs the green light from California district court Judge Claudia Ann Wilken — and that approval is expected soon. Meanwhile, Kirby Smart is facing heat on another front. At SEC Media Days on Tuesday, he acknowledged the spike in off-field incidents but stood by his program’s response. Smart didn’t dodge the issue. He owned it — and made it clear Georgia isn’t turning a blind eye. Honestly, change is coming, both on and off the field. And Smart’s right in the middle of it.

Kirby Smart didn’t sugarcoat it. “It’s disappointing anytime you have a situation like that,” he said, addressing Georgia’s recent off-field issues. But Smart made one thing clear — Georgia isn’t just reacting, they’re building a culture of accountability. From mandatory driver safety courses to player-led talks and outside speakers, the Bulldogs are taking real steps. “I don’t know any college coach who’s suspended a player for a driving citation. We have,” stated Smart. Adding, “We’ve also dismissed players.” He’s proud of the process — not just the punishment. Now, “We’ve got good kids. A really good locker room. I feel great about that,” said Smart. So, for Smart, it’s not just about outcomes. It’s about building better men.

While Kirby Smart is busy fining his players, he’s also calling out college athletes caught up in the NIL money game.

Kirby Smart drops a shocking truth

Welcome to the new era of CFB recruiting. It used to be simple. Top recruits chased two things: national championships and a clear path to the NFL. If your program had one — like Iowa’s NFL pipeline — you stayed competitive. If you had both — like Alabama — recruits lined up at your door. But the game has changed. Now, NIL deals are flipping the script. Recruits can cash in big, even before proving themselves on the field. Because suddenly, money talks louder than rings or NFL dreams. However, titles and player development? They’ve taken a back seat to the dollars and cents.

That’s the take from Kirby Smart — a proven winner with championships and NFL stars to his name. But even UGA is feeling the pressure of NIL stealing the spotlight in recruiting. Smart knows the pitch well. “It’s a great sell to the kids that will listen to it,” he said (h/t On3). Many recruits want to talk NIL dollars — not NFL legacies. But Smart isn’t buying it. “I think it’s much more important how you develop players than how much NIL you can give them.” For Smart, development still beats dollar signs every time.

But put yourself in a young recruit’s cleats. The NFL is a dream. NIL is a paycheck. Why chase long-term success when you can cash in now, maybe even before your first snap? A million-dollar deal today feels a lot more real than a draft pick years down the road. That mindset flips the script on everything CFB used to be.

As this new era unfolds, all eyes will be on Kirby Smart. Will he adapt — or eventually walk away like the rest?