Kirby Smart weighs in on moving home games for NIL, says Georgia was approached

Kirby Smart is well aware of what was revealed earlier this week with Auburn moving its home opener against Baylor next season from the Plains to Atlanta, with millions waiting for the Tigers in NIL cash in exchange for the home game.

It’s a sign of the times in college football, and the Georgia head coach was asked about what Auburn did during Wednesday’s weekly SEC coaches teleconference.

It’s very interesting. It’s just, I don’t know if you say it’s the tip of the iceberg. I don’t know where this is headed. I got no clue,” Smart said. “I mean, I’m focused on Auburn and trying to figure out how to make our team better. So, I don’t really fully understand what’s going on.

What’s going on is Auburn doesn’t mind playing 1 less home game in 2026 if there is a lot of money in the exchange, and what else is going on is that Smart revealed on Wednesday to reporters that he’s been approached about doing the same exact thing that Auburn has. Smart has plenty of experience dealing with neutral-site games, both at the beginning of the season with kickoff classic games and in the Bulldogs’ annual rivalry game against Florida.

People have reached out since then, even before then, about opportunities that would be there,” Kirby Smart said. “I think you gotta be careful because you’re … you’re working for two different groups. You know, you’re working to generate revenue for your players, which is the lifeblood of your program, but you’re also trying to entertain and make sure your customers, the ticket, the home ticket fans, the alumni, the people who buy your seats, are just as engaged.

It’s a touchy subject that’s arrived for all head coaches to deal with. For now, this Saturday in Week 7 of the 2025 season, Smart and his 10th-ranked team will have to deal with Auburn in a road environment, as the SEC rivals hook up for a primetime 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC. There will be nothing neutral about this matchup, with Georgia having to win at rowdy Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Cory Nightingale

Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.