In the evolving landscape of college football, where the postseason now includes a 12-team playoff format, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart remains steadfast in his belief that the SEC Championship game still holds immense value. Despite growing debates about whether participating in the conference title game is worth the riskโespecially for teams already projected to make the playoffโSmart has made it clear: winning the SEC is still a badge of honor.
Following Georgiaโs gritty 22โ19 win over Texas to claim the 2024 SEC title, Smart addressed the media with a mix of pride and realism. He acknowledged the physical toll of playing an additional high-stakes game, especially when key players like quarterback Carson Beck and punter Brett Thorson suffered injuries. But for Smart, the reward outweighs the risk. โYou play football to play the game. You play football to win your conference,โ he said, emphasizing that the SEC title is not just a stepping stoneโitโs a destination in its own right [A](https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/news/college-football/kirby-smart-says-he-still-values-sec-championship-game-in-12-team-playoff-era/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicmRrUkdwTEtoUHdTRGVYWG9DdmF4IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NvbnZlcnNhdGlvbklkIjoiRk1SM0RUU0JIUVVhdFBLTUxiUDRpIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnNhdHVyZGF5ZG93bnNvdXRoLmNvbVwvbmV3c1wvY29sbGVnZS1mb290YmFsbFwva2lyYnktc21hcnQtc2F5cy1oZS1zdGlsbC12YWx1ZXMtc2VjLWNoYW1waW9uc2hpcC1nYW1lLWluLTEyLXRlYW0tcGxheW9mZi1lcmFcLyJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
Smartโs perspective is shaped by experience. Under his leadership, Georgia has made four consecutive appearances in the SEC Championship game and has won two titles in the last three years. Heโs also won national championships without winning the SEC, and vice versa. That duality gives him a unique appreciation for both achievements. โTheyโre really hard to come by,โ he said, referring to SEC titles, and he places them on par with national championships in terms of difficulty and prestige [A](https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/news/college-football/kirby-smart-says-he-still-values-sec-championship-game-in-12-team-playoff-era/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicmRrUkdwTEtoUHdTRGVYWG9DdmF4IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrU291cmNlIjoiY2l0YXRpb25MaW5rIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnNhdHVyZGF5ZG93bnNvdXRoLmNvbVwvbmV3c1wvY29sbGVnZS1mb290YmFsbFwva2lyYnktc21hcnQtc2F5cy1oZS1zdGlsbC12YWx1ZXMtc2VjLWNoYW1waW9uc2hpcC1nYW1lLWluLTEyLXRlYW0tcGxheW9mZi1lcmFcLyIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jb252ZXJzYXRpb25JZCI6IkZNUjNEVFNCSFFVYXRQS01MYlA0aSJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
The expanded playoff format has led some coaches and analysts to question the necessity of conference championships. With more teams gaining access to the postseason, the fear of injury or a damaging loss in the SEC title game has prompted strategic reconsiderations. Lane Kiffin, for example, has voiced concerns about the downside of playing in the game, suggesting that some coaches might prefer to avoid it altogether to preserve playoff positioning [B](https://www.on3.com/college/georgia-bulldogs/news/kirby-smart-still-finds-value-in-sec-championship-despite-college-football-playoff-concerns/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJGTVIzRFRTQkhRVWF0UEtNTGJQNGkiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tTb3VyY2UiOiJjaXRhdGlvbkxpbmsiLCJldmVudEluZm9fY2xpY2tEZXN0aW5hdGlvbiI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC93d3cub24zLmNvbVwvY29sbGVnZVwvZ2VvcmdpYS1idWxsZG9nc1wvbmV3c1wva2lyYnktc21hcnQtc3RpbGwtZmluZHMtdmFsdWUtaW4tc2VjLWNoYW1waW9uc2hpcC1kZXNwaXRlLWNvbGxlZ2UtZm9vdGJhbGwtcGxheW9mZi1jb25jZXJuc1wvIiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX21lc3NhZ2VJZCI6InJka1JHcExLaFB3U0RlWFhvQ3ZheCJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
Smart, however, sees things differently. He believes the SEC Championship game still carries emotional and competitive weight. โThe games that have been played in this venue for the conference championship are incredible,โ he said. โFor people to devalue that over a playoff, I just donโt see it that way. I value SEC championships. I hold them in high esteem because the work it requires to do that is incredibleโ [A](https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/news/college-football/kirby-smart-says-he-still-values-sec-championship-game-in-12-team-playoff-era/?copilot_analytics_metadata=eyJldmVudEluZm9fY29udmVyc2F0aW9uSWQiOiJGTVIzRFRTQkhRVWF0UEtNTGJQNGkiLCJldmVudEluZm9fbWVzc2FnZUlkIjoicmRrUkdwTEtoUHdTRGVYWG9DdmF4IiwiZXZlbnRJbmZvX2NsaWNrRGVzdGluYXRpb24iOiJodHRwczpcL1wvd3d3LnNhdHVyZGF5ZG93bnNvdXRoLmNvbVwvbmV3c1wvY29sbGVnZS1mb290YmFsbFwva2lyYnktc21hcnQtc2F5cy1oZS1zdGlsbC12YWx1ZXMtc2VjLWNoYW1waW9uc2hpcC1nYW1lLWluLTEyLXRlYW0tcGxheW9mZi1lcmFcLyIsImV2ZW50SW5mb19jbGlja1NvdXJjZSI6ImNpdGF0aW9uTGluayJ9&citationMarker=9F742443-6C92-4C44-BF58-8F5A7C53B6F1).
He also pointed out that winning the SEC now comes with a strategic advantage: a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. That extra week of rest and preparation could be crucial in a deep postseason run. For Smart, thatโs another reason to fight for the titleโnot just for the trophy, but for the edge it provides.
In the end, Kirby Smartโs stance is clear. The SEC Championship game isnโt just worth itโitโs essential. Itโs a proving ground, a celebration of excellence, and a cornerstone of college football tradition. And for Georgia, itโs a stage where legends are made.
