Kirby Smart Supports Texas Longhorns Amid College Football Playoff Chaos

A few weeks after dominating the Texas Longhorns in Athens, Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is going to bat for Steve Sarkisian's team ahead of the reveal of the 12-team College Football Playoff bracket.

After winning the SEC Championship over the No. 9 Alabama Crimson Tide in Atlanta in a 28-7 blowout, Smart sat down with the SEC Network for a lengthy discussion recapping the game and the bracket reveal that lies ahead.

But in the process, Smart threw out some unsolicited support for the Longhorns, who remain heavily on the outside looking in before the 12-team bracket drops.

Kirby Smart Says Texas "One of the Best Teams in the Country

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning looks to make a pass during the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium. | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

"Texas is sitting there right now with one of the best football teams to me in the country," Smart said on SEC Network.

Smart and the Bulldogs, who handed Texas a blowout 35-10 loss on Nov. 15, already secured an automatic bid into the field, so there's no reason for him to prop the Longhorns up in order to make Georgia's win seem better. He seems genuine with his praise.

The final score of that game didn't necessarily indicate the script of the night. The Longhorns trailed Georgia 14-10 headed into the fourth quarter and showed they could be competitive against one of the top teams in the country.

Kirby Smart talking about Texas on SEC Final

"Texas is sitting there right now with one of the best football teams to me in the country."

He is firmly in Texas' corner to make the CFP pic.twitter.com/hLX9hIhXli
— Nash (@NashTalksTexas) December 7, 2025

Then, the wheels fell off, as Smart elected to go with surprise onside kick in the fourth quarter after Georgia had built the lead up to 21-10, and the Bulldogs quickly put the game into garbage time.

The bold move to go with the onside kick proved to be the knockout punch for Texas, and what was once a close game quickly turned into blowout.

Kirby Smart Props Up Florida Gators

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart looks on after the game against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the 2025 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

During the same segment, Smart started a conversation about the talent that the Florida Gators possess despite finishing with a 4-8 record along with firing coach of Billy Napier in the middle of the year.

The Longhorns' 29-21 loss to unranked Florida on Oct. 4 stands out like a sore thumb and rightfully so, but Georgia also had some struggles with the Gators and on a neutral sight no less.

"People are going to ridicule and make fun of Florida, that roster is big and physical, and talented," Smart said. "People don't get it."

On Nov. 1 in Jacksonville, Georgia got past Florida for a 24-20 win after the Gators had led with five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

The Longhorns will still likely miss the College Football Playoff but it's nice to see the support from Smart.