Kirby Smart and Ryan Day are both national-championship-winning head coaches. They also have a similar problem -- routinely losing one of the biggest games on the schedule.
In that sense, the Bulldogs and Smart are probably fortunate that the SEC avoided scheduling Georgia and SEC in the regular season for so long. Smart is an elite head coach. There is no doubt about that.
Georgia blasted Michigan football on its way to the national title back in 2021, when it defeated Alabama to win it all. However, that remains Smart's only win over the Crimson Tide.
Ryan Day and Kirby Smart have the problem
A chance at a Georgia three-peat was ended by Alabama in 2023, the same Alabama team that lost to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The Tide also beat Georgia in the fall of 2024, again, the same Alabama team that would later lose to Michigan football in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
So Sherrone Moore, with Davis Warren starting, and Alex Orji finishing the game, has as many wins over Alabama as Kirby Smart, who is now 1-7 against the Tide. Michigan football has more wins over Alabama in the past two seasons than Georgia has since the start of Smart's tenure.
"I mean, what's everybody else's record against 'em, you got it?"
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2025
Kirby Smart says he "doesn't lose sleep" over his 1-7 record against Alabama. pic.twitter.com/1z5GmNgdep
That's wild. But for some reason, Smart has escaped the same level of criticism that Ryan Day has received for losing four straight games to Michigan. He's 1-4 overall, despite winning the national title last season.
As great as Smart is, he's not above criticism. Not being able to beat Alabama is a problem. The Bulldogs still won the SEC last season after losing to Bama. Ohio State won the national title after losing to Michigan, so maybe it doesn't matter that much.
But the narrative around Smart and Alabama, should be the same as Day and Michigan.
Neither can get it done.