Georgia football HC Kirby Smart used his time at the podium during the annual SEC Spring Meetings to demand greater respect for the SEC in College Football Playoff (CFP) selections.
Drawing comparisons to the models used in softball and basketball, Smart challenged the current system and called for reforms that reward strength of schedule and conference performance.
Kirby Smart Compares CFP Selection Process to Basketball and Softball
Kirby Smart didn’t mince words when discussing how the SEC is treated in the College Football Playoff selection process. He argued that other NCAA sports, such as softball and basketball, reward teams for their strength of schedule and overall performance, often resulting in heavy SEC representation without controversy.
“I look at women’s softball, I look at men’s basketball, and I look at men’s baseball, and it just absolutely blows my mind how the SEC can end up with the teams they end up with in those positions,” Smart explained.
“And there’s nobody beating the drum saying it’s completely unfair. They do a lot of things based on RPI. They do a lot of things based on strength of schedule and they reward teams for that.”
Smart also questioned why football is held to a different standard, noting that in other sports, the SEC’s dominance is accepted and even celebrated. He referenced last year’s playoff snubs.
“I had a hard time seeing Ole Miss, Alabama, and South Carolina not being in the best teams last year. That’s… a big part of the SEC.”
His analysis suggests the CFP should take a page from these sports, using objective metrics like RPI and strength of schedule to ensure the best teams make the cut, regardless of conference.
He pushed back on the notion that increasing SEC conference games would necessarily benefit the league or the sport.
“Would we have been better off not playing Clemson last year and playing another SEC game to make nine games? How would that have been better for the SEC? How would that have been better for Georgia? I don’t think it would have.”
For Smart, high-profile non-conference games validate the SEC’s strength and should be embraced, not sacrificed.
The SEC’s Push for Fairness and Consistency in Playoff Selection
Smart’s comments reflect a broader call for fairness and consistency in how teams are chosen for the CFP. He argued that the current system often forces coaches and programs to act in self-preservation, rather than focusing on what’s best for the sport as a whole.
“We [sic] got to look at it from that perspective… not just do it for what’s best for me or just for self-preservation,” he emphasized.
He pointed out that, unlike basketball or softball, the regular season in football is sometimes devalued by playoff selection debates. “I don’t want to devalue the regular season,” Smart said.
“I do think there’s a lot of value in the regular season. I don’t think a team that… is the regular season basketball champion [should] go in the SEC tournament play and then not make the tournament. I mean it’s not going to happen, right?” he asked. Smart’s stance is that regular-season excellence should be rewarded, just as in other sports.
Smart’s advocacy concerns not only the SEC’s interests but also improving the integrity and clarity of the CFP process. He believes that aligning football with the proven models of other NCAA sports will benefit the entire landscape, ensuring that deserving teams are recognized and that the sport’s best interests remain at the forefront.
Kirby Smart’s firm stand at the SEC Spring Meetings highlights his demand for greater respect for the SEC in the CFP. He points to the fairness and objectivity seen in softball and basketball selection models.
His call for reform centers on rewarding strength of schedule and regular season performance, aiming to make college football’s postseason as equitable as its NCAA counterparts.
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