By: Kyle Golik
Kirby Smart had his Oprah Winfrey moment this week.
If the analogy escapes you, on September 13, 2004, Winfrey on her show gave every guest in the audience a brand new car and birthed one of the more iconic memes and GIFs on social media of “you get a car.”
Smart didn’t quite give brand new car keys to his SEC colleagues, but his “car” was “You get a ranking and You get a ranking.”
Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart today:
“I personally think every SEC Team should be Ranked.”
— College Football Report (@CFBRep) October 3, 2023
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“I personally think every SEC team should be ranked,” Smart said. “I guarantee you there are some teams that don’t want to play them when they’re ranked. I literally have no idea what you’re referencing because every team we play in the SEC is good enough to beat us. And, whether they’re ranked or not, I could care less. I’m trying to be more physical than them and outscore them. And (that’s) the only thing I’m concerned with – not their ranking.”
Smart was replying to the question if the SEC was down this year and his weak attempt to deflect and justify his league is just that.
The SEC is down so far this year, and it is plagued by issues most didn’t see coming.
Who would have thought that LSU, a defense many felt before the season would be near the top of the conference, would instead implode? Despite having Harold Perkins, one of the best defenders in the nation, the Tigers’ defense is allowing over 31 ppg and 430 ypg. Last week against Ole Miss, the Rebels put up 55 points and 706 yards on the LSU defense.
Who would have thought Alabama, after a parade of offensive coordinator gurus to come through in Tuscaloosa such as Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Mike Locksley, Brian Daboll, and even Bill O’Brien, now has gone from one of the nation’s most potent offenses to one riddled with questions at all levels of the offense?
Question marks at quarterback if Jalen Milroe can make plays, is the offensive line physical enough, are the receivers potent enough, and are the running backs good enough to carry the load.
Texas A&M ever since Jimbo Fisher’s “God Rant” against Nick Saban, has been a dumpster fire. Their historic Class of 2022 hasn’t shined as expected, and the latest injury to quarterback Conner Weigman is just another straw on top of the camel’s back.
Auburn still hasn’t recovered from their separation with Gus Malzahn, and quite frankly Florida still is trying to find the replacement for Urban Meyer but has failed time and time again trying to bring the right guy to Gainsville.
Tennessee might be 4-1, but we won’t know how legit Joe Milton and the Vols are until they get into the meat of their schedule against Alabama, Kentucky, and Georgia.
South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ole Miss tease their fans and nation about making the jump amongst the SEC elite, but consistently fail to ever successfully make that jump.
Mississippi State is dealing with the untimely passing of Mike Leach, one void they will never fill and that isn’t an indictment on Zach Arnett, no one could match the personality and bravado Leach had.
Missouri has a chance to prove it is a bonafide Top 25 team by giving LSU a Top 25 knockout blow, but the Tigers haven’t been able to do that since the Gary Pinkel era.
Arkansas is hoping Raheim “Rocket” Sanders’ injury isn’t any more severe than he suffered in the season opener.
After teasing their fanbase with wins against Hawaii and Alabama A&M, Clark Lea has presided over a Commodores team that has dropped four in a row.
Smart’s suggestion Vanderbilt being a ranked team is on par with the Commodores 13 lineup thinking they could make a chart-topping album without Lionel Richie.
While Smart is just trying to defend his league that has a litany of issues, Georgia has been fighting the injury issues and getting back to their 2021 and 2022 form.
Outside of SEC homers, ESPN, and Smart, there isn’t a soul alive that believes every SEC team should be ranked or every SEC team can beat Georgia. That is just poor coach speak.
For Smart, maybe the smart play is just hedge your bets on your team against anyone versus trying to talk up the dregs of your conference.
