Kirby Smart wishes Georgia vs. Alabama ‘could happen more often’ in Athens
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Kirby Smart is gearing up for the 2025 football season, and Georgia already has one marquee game circled on the schedule.
That would be on Sept. 27 when the Bulldogs host Alabama in a rematch of a 2024 instant classic between the 2 sides. In that game, Georgia erased an early deficit but it was not enough as Kalen DeBoer rallied his team and came up with the clutch plays down the stretch for a 41-34 win in Tuscaloosa.
Now, the Bulldogs get their chance to host in Athens, and it will actually be the first meeting between the two sides between the hedges since 2015. While speaking at SEC Media Days, Smart said his team, his city and the fans are ready for this kind of special matchup.
“They’ll come to our place and play, a tremendous atmosphere. I know a lot of people from Tuscaloosa are coming over to the game. Athens, the city, loves it. We bring a great environment. It’s what college football is about,” said Kirby Smart. “This game is about playing great matchups like that, it’s what the fanbases want, it’s what the nation wants, it’s what college football needs.”
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Smart concluded by admitting he wishes the Crimson Tide traveled more regularly to Athens for these matchups, but acknowledged the great opportunity:
“Georgia and Alabama, at home at our place. I wish it could happen more often. Seems like we’ve played over there 3-4 times before they’ve come to see us play,” Smart cracked. “It’s a great opportunity and we look forward to it.”
Part of Smart’s statement rings true. Since assuming the head coaching position in Athens, the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide have 7 head-to-head matchups, and none of those have been a home game for Georgia. However, only 2 of those games have come in Tuscaloosa.
That’s because the other 5 meetings have been neutral-site showdowns. From that group, 3 came in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta, and the other 2 were College Football Playoff matchups, with both showdowns coming in the national championship game.
In the long run, it would probably take a 9th SEC game every year to increase Alabama’s consistency of playing in Athens, but this year’s matchup should be a special one.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
