In the ever-evolving landscape of college football, the question of whether it’s worth making the SEC Championship game has taken on new complexity—especially with the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP) to 12 teams. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart recently addressed this very topic, and his response was as grounded and focused as his coaching philosophy has always been.
When asked whether it’s strategically beneficial for Georgia to make the SEC title game—given the risk of a third loss potentially knocking them out of playoff contention—Smart didn’t bite. “I don’t think that’s a hypothetical that—the focus is on UMass, I mean it really is,” he said, emphasizing that his attention remains squarely on the next opponent rather than playoff scenarios or tiebreaker math [A](https://dawnofthedawg.com/kirby-smart-discusses-if-it-s-worth-making-the-sec-championship-game?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJiaTFza29qaHZOZk02elZCUnRvUWQiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoia2lvQzRwUE1xeHpGODE4RDdEcWFMIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvZGF3bm9mdGhlZGF3Zy5jb21cL2tpcmJ5LXNtYXJ0LWRpc2N1c3Nlcy1pZi1pdC1zLXdvcnRoLW1ha2luZy10aGUtc2VjLWNoYW1waW9uc2hpcC1nYW1lIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIn0%3D&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
This response is classic Kirby Smart: laser-focused on the present, uninterested in distractions, and committed to the process. But beneath that coach-speak lies a deeper conversation that’s rippling through SEC fanbases. With the CFP now allowing 12 teams, the once ironclad necessity of winning the SEC to secure a playoff berth has softened. A two-loss team could still make the cut—so long as they avoid a third stumble.
For Georgia, a program that has built its identity on dominance and discipline, the idea of *not* wanting to play for a conference title feels almost sacrilegious. Yet, some fans are beginning to wonder: if the Bulldogs are already in the playoff picture, is it worth risking another loss in Atlanta?
Smart’s refusal to entertain that line of thinking speaks volumes. To him, the SEC Championship isn’t just a stepping stone—it’s a goal in itself. It’s about pride, tradition, and proving your mettle against the best. And while the playoff format may have changed, the value of hoisting that SEC trophy hasn’t diminished in his eyes.
Still, the strategic dilemma is real. In a season where multiple SEC teams are clustered with two losses, the margin for error is razor-thin. A third loss in the title game could be the difference between a playoff berth and a New Year’s Six consolation. That’s why some fans are quietly hoping their team avoids the title game altogether—an unthinkable notion just a few years ago.
But Kirby Smart isn’t wired that way. He’s not coaching to avoid losses; he’s coaching to win championships. And that mindset is what has made Georgia a perennial powerhouse under his leadership. Whether or not the Bulldogs make it to Atlanta, Smart’s focus will remain the same: prepare relentlessly, play with purpose, and let the chips fall where they may.
In the end, the SEC Championship game still matters—to the players, to the fans, and certainly to Kirby Smart. Because for him, greatness isn’t about gaming the system. It’s about embracing every challenge, every opportunity, and every moment to compete at the highest level. And that’s a philosophy that never goes out of style.
