The Legacy of Nick Saban and Kirby Smart’s Path in College Football’s Postseason
In the world of college football, few coaches have ever dominated the sport like Nick Saban. The former Alabama head coach left behind a legacy that may never be matched, cementing himself as the greatest of all time (GOAT) with his six national championships at Alabama and one more at LSU. His ability to consistently win on the biggest stages, particularly in the postseason, set the standard for success in the modern era of college football.
As Georgia’s Kirby Smart continues to build his own legacy, comparisons between the two are inevitable. However, when it comes to postseason success, Saban remains in a league of his own. While Smart has had an impressive run as Georgia’s head coach, his 8-5 postseason record, including College Football Playoff games and SEC Championship appearances, shows the difficulty of maintaining sustained success at the highest level.
Saban’s Postseason Dominance
Nick Saban’s postseason numbers are staggering. Across his career, he amassed an 18-6 record in postseason play, including an incredible nine SEC championships and six national titles at Alabama. His ability to consistently win in the biggest games separated him from his peers.
Under Saban, Alabama became the last true dynasty in college football. The Tide were perennial contenders for nearly two decades, producing NFL talent at an unprecedented rate and dominating the sport year after year. While programs like Georgia, Clemson, and Ohio State have had strong runs in recent years, none have come close to replicating the sheer dominance that Alabama sustained under Saban.
Saban’s postseason dominance wasn’t just about winning—it was about how his teams won. Whether it was the suffocating defense of his early Alabama teams or the explosive offenses led by Tua Tagovailoa, Mac Jones, and Bryce Young in later years, Saban adapted to the evolution of the game better than anyone else. His teams were always prepared, disciplined, and capable of rising to the occasion in championship moments.
Kirby Smart’s Postseason Record: Great, But Not Saban-Level
Since taking over as Georgia’s head coach in 2016, Kirby Smart has done an exceptional job of building the Bulldogs into a powerhouse. He has won two national championships (2021, 2022), multiple SEC East titles, and has turned Georgia into one of the most dominant programs of the last five seasons.
However, Smart’s postseason record of 8-5—including SEC Championships and College Football Playoff games—illustrates just how difficult it is to sustain success at Saban’s level. While Georgia has been one of the premier programs in the country under Smart, there have been setbacks along the way. Losses in the SEC Championship Game, including to Alabama in 2018 and 2021, have prevented Smart from achieving the level of postseason dominance that Saban maintained for years.
Smart has undeniably proven that Georgia is now an elite program, but maintaining that status for over a decade—something Saban did better than anyone—will be his ultimate challenge.
The Last College Football Dynasty?
Saban’s Alabama dynasty will likely go down as the last true long-term reign of dominance in college football. With the introduction of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) and the transfer portal, it is becoming increasingly difficult for any one program to dominate year after year. The parity in college football is greater than ever before, making it nearly impossible for a team to sustain success at the level that Alabama did under Saban.
Alabama’s run from 2009-2022 included six national titles, nine SEC championships, and an unmatched ability to reload talent. Even in years when the Tide didn’t win the championship, they were almost always in the hunt. The consistency Saban built is something that may never be replicated in an era where player movement and external factors play a larger role than ever before.
Programs like Georgia, Michigan, and Ohio State may continue to have strong runs, but the era of one team dominating for over a decade appears to be over. Saban’s ability to recruit, develop talent, and evolve with the game made him the perfect coach for his era, and the odds of another coach coming close to his level of success seem slim.
Can Kirby Smart Get Close?
While no one may ever reach Saban’s level, Smart has positioned himself as the coach most capable of sustaining success in the post-Saban era. Georgia has consistently been at the top of recruiting rankings, they have one of the best player development programs in the country, and their facilities and resources match up with any program in college football.
The biggest question for Smart moving forward is whether he can sustain this success for another decade. Saban didn’t just win early at Alabama—he won consistently for 15 years. He was able to adjust to changes in the game, continuously bring in elite coaching staffs, and always keep Alabama as the team to beat.
For Smart to get even close to Saban’s level, he’ll have to continue adapting, recruiting at a high level, and consistently winning championships. Two national titles in eight seasons is impressive, but getting to six or seven, as Saban did, will require Georgia to keep its foot on the gas.
Conclusion: There Will Never Be Another Saban
Kirby Smart has already carved out his place as one of the best coaches in college football today, but when it comes to the postseason, Nick Saban’s dominance remains untouchable. With 18 postseason wins, 9 SEC titles, and 6 national championships at Alabama, Saban set a standard that may never be reached again.
While Smart is building something special at Georgia, Saban’s legacy as the GOAT of college football coaching is likely secure. In an era where sustained dominance is harder than ever, Nick Saban’s Alabama dynasty will stand as the last great reign in college football history.