It’s well-known that Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban were absolute college football legends. They were great at building winning teams from nothing, which made them super popular. Fans from everywhere, even from rival teams, admired their coaching. Now that Saban has retired and Harbaugh has gone to the NFL, people are wondering who will step up in their place in college football.

Thus, ESPN decided to tackle this tricky question—who’s the best coach in college football? ESPN insiders voted, considering factors like past success and future potential. After much consideration, the results are finally in. In a surprise move, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart secured the coveted No. 1 spot.  

Smart fills Jim Harbaugh and Nick Saban’s shoes

ESPN recently asked its reporters to rank their Top 10 college football coaches. They didn’t provide strict guidelines, letting reporters choose the most important factors. Points were given based on where the coaches ranked, and the final results were shared on Instagram.

Kirby Smart had his top spot by receiving all 10 first-place votes. He beat out other great coaches like Kalen DeBoer and Kyle Whittingham. Smart’s rise to the top might seem surprising, but it almost feels like it was always meant to be. Kirby Smart took his position as Georgia’s head coach after assisting Nick Saban at LSU, Alabama, and even in the NFL. With a team full of talent, he won two SEC Championships and two National Championships. With Saban retiring, Smart’s rise from promising assistant to the top college football coach seems like fate.

Kirby Smart: The undisputed king of college football

Kirby Smart has made Georgia into a highly competitive team. He’s a genius at finding and developing outstanding players. He’s sent around 55 players to the NFL, including 15 first-round picks. Also, he has 10 more stars in the making. He’s also undefeated against other active coaches over the past years. Since 2016, Smart’s record is a stunning 94-16.

Read More: Amid Insider’s Revelation About Kirby Smart’s Opinion on Alabama, AD Assesses Kalen DeBoer’s First Month

Smart has a championship-caliber Georgia team with Carson Beck as the quarterback. However, the path to the title got tougher with the 12-team playoff and Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC. This means Smart will face off against highly ranked coaches like Steve Sarkisian, Dabo Swinney, and Lane Kiffin. Even with such hurdles, Smart can still lead Georgia to victories. He is quite a pro at finding great players and building teams winning teams. In a way, his success mirrors that of Harbaugh and Saban. That’s why Smart’s place at the top was never in doubt while the rest of the rankings were up for debate.

Read More: Was Nick Saban a Dictator? Disciple Kirby Smart Reveals Details of Ex Alabama HC’s Leadership Style