Auburn coach Gus Malzahn has a long history of being on the opposite sideline as Kirby Smart. The Georgia coach and former Alabama defensive coordinator, and the Auburn coach, have had plenty of big games and monumental wins and losses for both sides.

“The thing about it, you are exactly right, he was at Alabama and now he’s at Georgia — two of our top rivals,” Malzahn said Wednesday on the SEC coaches media teleconference. “And we’ve had obviously some really really big games and, but I will say this, I’ve got respect for him. He’s a really good football coach and we’ve had some really good battles. So, you know, that’s just when you’re rivals, I mean that’s just the way it is.”

Asked if he’d like to see uniform COVID reporting in the SEC, Malzahn said, “For me, transparency is really good, so I’d be for that.”

One of the interesting developments of Saturday’s game in Athens will be who Georgia starts at quarterback, and how long they play in the game. Does Auburn know who will start for the Bulldogs?

“Nah, we really don’t know but we will be prepared,” Malzahn said. “It’s kinda like playing another opener. whoever they go with, you have to adjust.”