The Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship game is one of the most coveted stages in college football, a proving ground for the best teams in arguably the toughest league in the nation. For Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, who has guided the Bulldogs to multiple SEC title games during his tenure, the question of whether making it to this high-stakes contest is “worth it” sparks a deeper conversation about the modern state of college football and the goals of his program.
With the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to 12 teams in 2024, Smart has had to weigh the pros and cons of competing in the SEC Championship game, which often demands another grueling matchup against a top-tier opponent just a week before postseason play begins. Speaking candidly in a recent press conference, Smart addressed whether securing a spot in the conference title game is still as critical as it once was.
“The SEC Championship is a tremendous honor and a great opportunity to showcase your program against the best,” Smart said. “But at the same time, it’s a grind. You’re facing elite competition every week in this conference, and getting to Atlanta means one more battle before the playoffs even start.”
The SEC Championship game, held annually at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, pits the winners of the SEC East and West divisions against each other. For teams like Georgia, consistently at the top of the East, the path to the championship game often involves navigating a brutal regular-season schedule. Injuries, fatigue, and the physical toll of SEC play can make the added game feel more like a gauntlet than a reward.
Smart acknowledged this reality but emphasized the prestige of the event. “There’s nothing quite like the SEC Championship,” he said. “It’s a chance to prove you’re the best in the best conference in the country. But in today’s landscape, with the playoff expansion, you have to ask yourself how much it impacts your ultimate goal of winning a national title.”
With the CFP expansion, teams that dominate the regular season may not need to win—or even reach—the SEC Championship to secure a playoff berth. This raises the question of whether some programs might strategically downplay the importance of the conference title to prioritize player health and preparation for the playoffs.
Smart, however, pushed back against the idea of devaluing the SEC Championship. “For us, every game matters,” he said. “You don’t go into a season saying, ‘Let’s skip the SEC Championship.’ You go into it saying, ‘Let’s win every game and be the best version of ourselves.’ That’s what this program is built on.”
Still, Smart admitted that the expanded playoff does change the calculus. “It gives you a little more breathing room,” he said. “Before, if you didn’t make it to Atlanta or win the SEC, your playoff chances were slim. Now, you could lose a game, miss the SEC Championship, and still have a shot at the national title.”
Smart’s comments reflect the balancing act coaches face in the evolving college football landscape. On one hand, the SEC Championship game offers an invaluable opportunity for teams to showcase their dominance and secure momentum heading into the postseason. On the other hand, it adds another layer of physical and mental strain in a sport where margins for error are razor-thin.
“One thing I know is that our players love competing in big games,” Smart said. “The atmosphere in Atlanta is electric, and winning the SEC is something they’ll remember forever. It’s also a great preparation for what’s to come in the playoffs.”
At the same time, Smart acknowledged the challenges of maintaining peak performance through December and January. “It’s a long season, and you’ve got to be smart about how you manage your team,” he said. “The goal is to play your best football when it matters most, and that means making sure your players are fresh and healthy for the postseason.”
As Georgia prepares for another potential trip to the SEC Championship game, Smart remains focused on what he believes matters most: competing at the highest level and giving his team the best chance to win. Whether the expanded playoff will lead to a diminished emphasis on conference titles remains to be seen, but for Smart and the Bulldogs, the path to greatness still runs through Atlanta.
“The SEC Championship is part of what makes this conference special,” Smart said. “It’s a goal we set every year, and it’s a game we take tremendous pride in playing. At the same time, we know the ultimate goal is winning a national championship, and we’ll always do what’s best for our program to make that happen.”
With the postseason landscape shifting, Kirby Smart and his Bulldogs continue to embrace the challenge of staying on top in a rapidly changing college football world. Whether it’s the SEC title or a national championship, Georgia’s focus remains steadfast: win everything, one game at a time.