At SEC Media Days, Kirby Smart Doesn’t Hold Back: Calls Steve Sarkisian’s Texas One of the Best Teams Georgia Will Play Against.
He began by saying, “Tremendous respect for Steve Sarkisian and his program, the job they do,” underscoring how well the Longhorns have evolved since entering the SEC (SI). Smart emphasized it’s not about coaches but players and their conviction, validating the strength Texas has shown on the field and in recruiting.
Smart’s words carry weight. Last season, Georgia edged Texas twice, including a 22–19 overtime thriller in the SEC Championship on December 7, 2024 (SI, . But Texas’s emergence hasn’t gone unnoticed. Experts view the Longhorns as the top team in the conference, reflected in the pre-media poll placing Texas first and Georgia second
Yet it wasn’t just rankings that prompted Smart’s praise; it was Texas’s trajectory. Sarkisian is riding a wave—13-win seasons, a Peach Bowl win, a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, and a record-setting 12 players entering the 2025 NFL Draft Moving into the SEC hasn’t just been symbolic; Sarkisian has leveraged the conference switch into a national recruiting push, flipping top Georgia recruits like Tyler Atkinson and James Johnson—tremendous strikes in a state that’s long been the Bulldogs’ pipeline
That narrative wasn’t lost on Smart. He acknowledged the recruiting war intensifying, especially in Georgia, but framed it within the broader pressure cooker of the SEC. “We got a lot of really good football teams to play next year, besides just Texas,” he said, stressing the depth of competition (SI). Georgia knows Texas is far from a flash in the pan; they’re buyers in the market for elite talent and are increasingly attractive.
Smart also deftly balanced respect with realism. He lauded the progress, but dug in on fundamentals: beat good teams by being good yourself. “If you’re going to beat a good football team, you’ve got to be sound football team yourself,” he said (SI). In short, Texas isn’t going away—but neither are the Bulldogs.
On Texas’s side, Sarkisian did what he does best: ride the momentum without overlooking the challenges. He spoke at Media Days about the state of their program, recruiting advantages, and plans for the season He even showed confidence that Texas is fully “attractive” to top-tier talent—nationally and especially in SEC-rich states.
The numbers back him up. Texas’s 2026 class ranks seventh nationally, with half from out-of-state—and eight from traditional SEC regions like Georgia and Florida . Flipping four-star Georgia linebacker Tyler Atkinson and defensive lineman James Johnson cemented that growth Sarkisian openly celebrated this evolution, calling it “a five‑star culture and five‑star players,” a juxtaposition of ambition and achievement
Still, context matters. Texas lost both showdowns with Georgia in 2024—the latter in a heated SEC Championship that featured the first-ever overtime in the game’s 33-year historyThey went on to reach the Peach Bowl and CFP semifinal, but those losses sting. Smart’s Georgia is all in, fielding a fierce defense and rapidly replenishing its roster despite graduating key veterans The Bulldogs boast consistency and championship pedigree that skeptics say Texas has yet to fully earn.
That pedigree was on full display with quarterback Gunner Stockton, the sophomore stepping up for the injured Carson Beck and showcasing leadership and poise . And despite roster turnover, Smart emphasized the importance of sustaining standards: “Relationships over transactions,” he stressed, signaling a culture built to endure beyond one recruiting cycle
The quarterback matter adds another layer. Texas star Arch Manning announced himself at Media Days, embracing his starting role with humility, and his Manning legacy brings instant attention Georgia, meanwhile, has exuded quiet confidence in Stockton. The quarterback matchup could define the November 15 Athens showdown—the first regular-season game under the hedges, where Georgia’s home advantage and winning streak loom large
Strategically, both coaches are playing chess. Smart is wary of complacency, stating that roster youth won’t dilute effort. He knows Texas is surging, but has spent a decade building a fortress of standards, recruitment, and culture Sarkisian is evolving Texas, bringing pro-spread offense, national recruiting momentum, and playoff successes that were rare in recent Longhorn history
Smart’s words were deliberate. By acknowledging Texas as one of the best Georgia will face, he both honors Sarkisian’s work and galvanizes his team—making clear that every battle will be earned. This summer tip of the cap sets the tone.
The broader SEC context amplifies the stakes. Coaches across the league—Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, South Carolina’s Shane Beamer—are voicing support for expanded College Football Playoff, citing the conference’s fierce landscape. Georgia’s youth movement under Smart plays right into that narrative: elite depth, playoff potential, national scope. Texas fits that too—13 wins, 12 drafted players, high-profile recruits
Playing styles provide further tension. Georgia brings its trademark rugged defense and methodical tempo. Texas counters with pro-spread versatility and offensive firepower centered around Arch Manning and co. This contrast of strengths sets up a classic clash—like chessboards on grass.
There is drama beyond the field. Recruiting battles have turned brawls between Georgia and Texas, with top Georgia recruits opting for Austin, adding another subplot. Anecdotes from media days capture the competitive tone: Lane Kiffin praised the apex of coaching, dubbing Smart and Sarkisian “two premier programs and premier coaches in college football
Smart’s respect motto holds a dual edge: validate without conceding. It keeps attention on fundamentals: structure, discipline, sound execution. Smart talked up relationships, youth, hunger—highlighting how his program is more than just trophies—it’s built to sustain them
Ultimately, the November game in Athens will shape more than one season—it may define a coaching legacy. If Texas breaks the Dawgs’ stout home record, they announce arrival. If Georgia stifles them again, it cements a decade of dominance.
For now, Media Days have launched the narrative war: Texas bringing in-star talent and offensive swagger, Georgia leaning on culture, tradition, and playoff pedigree. Kirby Smart’s message was clear: respect earned—on and off the field. He’s calling out Sarkisian and Texas as serious contenders. But he also set the gauntlet. Georgia is ready for the pushback.
In essence, SEC Media Days framed Texas vs. Georgia not just as two SEC fronts clashing, but as a clash of philosophies—Sarkisian’s rising momentum against Smart’s reigning juggernaut. For both coaches, the June words echo into November’s realities. And smartly, nobody in Athens will forget this summer’s validation of Texas—or this summer’s reminder that being respected is just round one.
