Why Paul Finebaum blames Georgia HC Kirby Smart for Big Ten dominance over SEC

College football analyst Paul Finebaum had a critical stance towards Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart when it came to the SEC trailing the Big Ten to be the dominant conference in all of college football.

Smart is approaching the 11th season of his head coaching career with the Bulldogs. He has consistently been successful as one of the best coaches in the country, leading the program to two national championships in 2021 and 2022.

However, the last three seasons have seen the Big Ten reach the mountaintop over the SEC with Michigan, Ohio State and Indiana winning it all. This resulted in Finebaum being critical towards Smart, believing that the Georgia coach made winning the national title look easier than it actually was.

“It’s at the top of the SEC where the problem has occurred, and it’s all one person’s fault — it’s Kirby Smart’s fault,” Finebaum said on Wednesday’s Crain & Cone. “Because he won two in a row, he made it look so easy — he should’ve won three in a row, but Nick Saban stunned him in the SEC championship game. And then all these other things have happened. I don’t think it’s a reason to go hide under a rock, nor do I think it’s a reason for SEC fans to find anything that they can and beat their chest about.”

What lies ahead for Kirby Smart, Georgia

Paul Finebaum has varying opinions regarding the current state of college sports, especially in football. The SEC and Big Ten will continue to shine as two of the premier conferences in the game, presenting another chance for Kirby Smart and Georgia to compete for another national championship.

Following the title wins in 2021 and 2022, Smart has helped Georgia remain active as a postseason squad. Missing the College Football Playoff in 2023, they made it back for the next two seasons as one of the best teams around.

2025 was solid for the Bulldogs, finishing with a 12-2 overall record. However, they lost in a 39-34 shootout to the Ole Miss Rebels in the CFP quarterfinals.

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