Kirby Smart Makes History: The Only Active SEC Head Coach with an SEC Championship and the First to Win Back-to-Back Titles in the CFP Era
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has long been regarded as the pinnacle of college football, producing powerhouse programs and legendary coaches. In a league where competition is fierce, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has cemented himself as the only active SEC head coach to win an SEC Championship and the first head coach to win back-to-back national championships in the College Football Playoff (CFP) era.
With Georgia’s dominant SEC Championship win and back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, Smart has proven that his Bulldogs are the team to beat. As college football undergoes rapid changes with NIL deals, the transfer portal, and expanded playoffs, Smart’s ability to maintain dominance in the toughest conference in the sport is nothing short of remarkable.
Georgia’s SEC Championship Run Under Smart
When Kirby Smart took over at Georgia in 2016, his mission was clear: bring Georgia its first national title since 1980 and establish the Bulldogs as a perennial championship contender. He has done just that.
Smart’s first SEC title came in 2017, when Georgia defeated Auburn 28-7 in the SEC Championship Game. That victory sent the Bulldogs to the College Football Playoff for the first time, where they won an instant classic against Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl before falling just short in overtime against Alabama in the national championship game.
Georgia continued to dominate the SEC East in the following years, making multiple appearances in the SEC Championship Game, but losses to Alabama in 2018 and 2021 prevented them from winning another conference title. However, the 2022 season would be different.
After Georgia’s 2021 national title run, Smart and his team were determined to prove they were no one-year wonder. The Bulldogs finished the 2022 regular season undefeated (12-0) and demolished LSU 50-30 in the SEC Championship Game, securing their second SEC title under Smart.
That championship set the stage for another dominant postseason run, where Georgia went on to win its second consecutive national title, making Smart the first coach in the CFP era to win back-to-back championships.
The First Back-to-Back Champion in the CFP Era
Winning one national championship is difficult. Winning two in a row? That’s nearly impossible in the modern era of college football. But that’s exactly what Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs accomplished in 2021 and 2022.
Before Georgia’s run, no team in the College Football Playoff era (which began in 2014) had won back-to-back national championships. Even Nick Saban, with all his dominance at Alabama, never managed to win two straight CFP titles.
Here’s how Georgia’s back-to-back titles unfolded:
- 2021 National Championship: Georgia avenged its SEC Championship loss to Alabama by defeating the Crimson Tide 33-18 in the CFP National Championship Game. That win ended Georgia’s 41-year championship drought and officially put Smart’s Bulldogs at the top of the college football world.
- 2022 National Championship: After an undefeated season (15-0), Georgia dominated the College Football Playoff, including a 65-7 rout of TCU in the title game—one of the most lopsided national championship victories in history.
By winning two straight national championships, Smart achieved something only a handful of college football coaches have ever done. The last team to win back-to-back titles before Georgia was Alabama in 2011 and 2012, under Saban—before the CFP was created.
The SEC’s Coaching Turnover and Smart’s Continued Dominance
One of the most impressive aspects of Smart’s success is how he has remained at the top while the rest of the SEC’s coaching landscape continues to change.
- Nick Saban (Alabama): The greatest coach in college football history retired after the 2023 season, leaving Alabama in search of a new leader.
- Brian Kelly (LSU): Led LSU to the 2022 SEC West title, but has yet to win an SEC Championship.
- Josh Heupel (Tennessee): Had a breakout season in 2022, but has yet to make an SEC Championship appearance.
- Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss), Mark Stoops (Kentucky), Billy Napier (Florida), and others: Solid coaches, but none have won the SEC Championship.
With Saban’s retirement, Smart stands alone as the only active SEC head coach with an SEC Championship victory.
Georgia’s Dynasty Under Smart
The word “dynasty” is often thrown around in sports, but there’s no denying that Georgia is currently in dynastic territory under Smart.
Since 2017, the Bulldogs have:
✅ Won 2 National Championships (2021, 2022)
✅ Won 2 SEC Championships (2017, 2022)
✅ Made 3 National Championship Appearances (2017, 2021, 2022)
✅ Won 6 SEC East Titles (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
✅ Had multiple No. 1 recruiting classes
✅ Produced dozens of NFL Draft picks, including multiple first-rounders
With Saban out of the picture, Georgia is now the gold standard in the SEC.
What’s Next for Smart and Georgia?
With two national championships and multiple SEC titles, the next challenge for Kirby Smart is sustaining his success.
The 2024 College Football Playoff expansion (from 4 teams to 12 teams) will make winning national championships even harder. Georgia will likely have to play more games in the postseason, and roster depth will be even more important.
However, if any program is built to handle the challenge, it’s Georgia. Smart has established a winning culture, elite recruiting, and a dominant defense—the same formula that made Alabama a dynasty under Saban.
Final Thoughts: Smart’s Place in SEC History
With multiple SEC titles and back-to-back national championships, Kirby Smart has already established himself as one of the best coaches in SEC history.
Now, the question is: Can he continue Georgia’s dominance for another decade like Saban did?
With the way Georgia is recruiting and developing talent, the answer seems to be yes. As long as Smart is leading the Bulldogs, Georgia will remain the team to beat in the SEC and beyond.
Kirby Smart is no longer just a great coach—he is THE standard in the SEC.