BREAKING NEWS: GEORGIA FOOTBALL COACH KIRBY SMART’S HISTORY WITH AND AGAINST ALABAMA IS A SUBJECT OF INTEREST FOR FANS.

What you should know about Georgia football coach Kirby Smart’s past against and with Alabama
The first-ever game on the SEC’s 2024 season, Georgia football coach Kirby Smart takes on Alabama on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC). After leaving his extraordinarily successful eight-year position as Alabama’s defensive coordinator under famous coach Nick Saban, this will be Smart’s sixth meeting with the Crimson Tide. UA has Kalen DeBoer in lieu of the retiring Saban, therefore Saban won’t be on the opposing sidelines this time. And on the line will be a 42-game regular-season winning streak, which is a national record. In 2007, Smart assisted Nick Saban as the team’s secondary coach, but starting in 2008, he assumed the role of defensive coordinator for Alabama.
Smart’s defenses were completely dominant, stifling opponents with their run defense and applying a relentless pass rush. This led to a parade of future first-round NFL draft picks. The Alabama defenses managed by Smart were ranked as follows in terms of overall defense (yards allowed): 2008: First in the SEC, Third in the NCAA; 2009: First in the SEC, Second in the NCAA; 2010: First in the SEC, Fifth in the NCAA; 2011: First in the SEC, First in the NCAA; 2012: First in the SEC, First in the NCAA; 2013: First in the SEC, Fifth in the NCAA; 2014: Third in the SEC, Twelveth in the NCAA; 2015: First in the SEC, Third in the NCAA]. The best defense for Smart? Let’s use the 2011 national championship season, in which UA led the NCAA in five defensive statistics, including the lowest point surrender, at 8.15.
Georgia’s Kirby Smart, a former Alabama defensive coordinator, returned to Georgia after unsuccessful attempts to hire him. He stayed at Alabama through the postseason, winning a College Football Playoff national title. Georgia’s defensive coordinator, Glenn Schumann, follows Smart’s system, which includes a four-man pass rush. Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa was the hero of the first matchup, beating Georgia 26-23 with a game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith. Georgia’s last game against Alabama was a heartbreaking loss, as the Crimson Tide defeated Georgia 27-24 in the SEC Championship Game. Smart’s return to Tuscaloosa will be his second time facing Alabama since returning to his alma mater. In 2020, Alabama hosted the UGA during the Crimson Tide’s last national championship season, and defeated UGA 41-24. Alabama intercepted Stetson Bennett three times defensively.