DALLAS – This morning Georgia’s Kirby Smart was the first coach to speak with the media on Day Two of SEC Media Days. During the press conference portion of his time on the podium Smart fielded a few different questions about Texas’ and Oklahoma’s entrance into the SEC as well as the Bulldogs matchup with the Longhorns in Austin.

In regards to the Horns and Sooners entrance into the SEC, Smart could not have been more excited to embrace the challenge of both teams entering the conference. Smart said that with their addition, every game will be that much more difficult in an already grueling SEC schedule. 

With the increased difficulty, Kirby says that motivates his team and his coaching staff that much more because of the increased competition. He compares the new SEC schedule with the addition of Texas and Oklahoma to the NFL schedule, where you play the best of the best every single week. 

In addition to facing the Longhorns on the road on October 19th, Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs will also travel to face Alabama, Ole Miss, and Kentucky on the road. The Dawgs also have home/neutral site games against Clemson, Tennessee, and Florida. 

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In a separate question, Smart was directly asked the matchup with Texas. He was asked “Do you consider Texas the best opponent you will face?” Smart gave a very political answer to that question when he gave nothing but praise for Coach Sarkisian, his staff, their recruiting and NIL efforts, as well as their current team. 

He specifically spoke about this year’s Texas team as an SEC caliber team when he said:

“They’re a big physical team. They’re built like a physical football team. They’re built like an SEC football team. We’re looking forward to an opportunity to come play them. What a tremendous matchup it’ll be.”

-Kirby Smart

Maybe Smart did not give the answer Longhorn fans were looking for; however, it is a true sign of respect when you have the best coach in college football praise your entire program from on field play to recruiting to NIL effort.

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