Kirby Smart's tenure with the Georgia Bulldogs has been filled with gold and glamor. The Bulldogs have scaled college football's mountaintop multiple times in the past decade. They largely have their taskmaster to thank.
Under Smart's tutelage, Georgia has become a buzzsaw. But the Bulldogs ruthless ways don't appear to translate to one notable matchup: their clashes with the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Smart's side has suffered its fair share of lumps when jousting with the Tide. Its most recent defeat, a 24-21 loss on Sept. 27, even saw Smart take some risks. Down three and facing fourth and goal from Alabama's eight-yard line early in the fourth quarter, Smart trotted his offense back on the field, designing a play for tailback Cash Jones.
It didn't work; Jones was stuffed well behind the line of scrimmage.
BAMA STOPS GEORGIA ON 4TH DOWN!! #ROLLTIDE pic.twitter.com/vu2JDZkdwq
— Im not a fan of your favorite team (@fsh733) September 28, 2025
The play proved costly for the Bulldogs, who were unable to find an equalizing score before the end of regulation.
It's impossible to say if Smart's decision and play call were inspired by Georgia's rancid record against the Tide. But it's also hard to place it in a vacuum, either. The Bulldogs have been uncharacteristically bad against Alabama under Smart. Until that changes, choices like the one he made in their most recent fixture will be magnified.
So, just how has Smart and his team performed against the Tide? Here's what you need to know.
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Kirby Smart record vs. Alabama
Smart is undoubtedly one of the best tacticians in the sport. That reputation appears to elude him when he takes on the Crimson Tide, though. He sports a 1-7 record against Alabama, good for a win rate of 12.5%.
The Tide are Smart's trickiest opponent by far. They're one of three SEC teams he currently has a losing record against -- he's 1-2 against LSU and Ole Miss since ascending to the throne in Athens in 2016.
It's unclear quite why Smart's sides haven't been able to play well against Alabama. He noted that the contests have been highly-competitive; five games have been decided by a single score.
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Smart's record isn't the most inspiring. But, as he explained to reporters following his Sept. 27, 2025 defeat to the Tide, he's not "losing sleep" over the results.
"I mean what's everybody else's record against them," Smart queried. "I don't lose sleep over that. Those games have been championship-caliber games. Even when we play in the regular season, they've been -- I just saw 25 scouts out there -- they're all out there to watch these teams play.
"That's not going to affect me. I'm going to be happy and go-lucky if our team comes back and play well. But we got to get better. And next year won't have anything to do with this year."
"I mean, what's everybody else's record against 'em, you got it?"
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2025
Kirby Smart says he "doesn't lose sleep" over his 1-7 record against Alabama. pic.twitter.com/1z5GmNgdep
Kirby Smart vs. Alabama results
| DATE | OPPONENTS | RESULT |
| Jan. 8, 2018 | vs. No. 4 Alabama | L, 26-23 (OT) |
| Dec. 1, 2018 | vs. No. 1 Alabama | L, 35-28 |
| Oct. 17, 2020 | at No. 2 Alabama | L, 41-24 |
| Dec. 4, 2021 | vs. No. 3 Alabama | L, 42-24 |
| Jan. 10, 2022 | vs. No. 1 Alabama | W, 33-18 |
| Dec. 2, 2023 | vs. No. 8 Alabama | L, 27-24 |
| Sept. 28, 2024 | vs. No. 4 Alabama | L, 41-34 |
| Sept. 27, 2025 | vs. No. 17 Alabama | L, 24-21 |
Kirby Smart record vs. top-25 teams
Smart has enjoyed plenty of success against top-25 teams. He has a 38-17 (.691) record against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. Georgia's 38 top-25 wins since the 2016 season are the second-most in the span -- trailing only Alabama, who has 45. Only the Tide and Ohio State have better win rates. in top-25 matchups than the Bulldogs.
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If Smart's games against Alabama were removed from his top-25 wins and losses mark, his win rate in such contests would swell to 78.7%. Talk about a bogey team.
Kirby Smart record at Georgia
Smart has a 108-20 (.844) mark across 10 seasons in Athens. The Bulldogs' 108 wins during that span are the second-best mark in the nation, while their 84.4% win rate is the third-best. They trail the Crimson Tide in each category, although they are level on titles, having landed two national crowns apiece. Alabama has more College Football Playoff appearances during that time (six to Georgia's four). However, the Bulldogs hold the better record by win percentage (.714 vs. the Crimson Tide's .643).
Kirby Smart coaching record by year
Smart was handed the reins to Georgia's team after Mark Richt was sacked following the 2015 season. He's coached each game for the Bulldogs since landing the gig, leading Georgia to two national titles.
Here's a look at his season-by-season record
| YEAR | W | L | W* | L* |
| 2016 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| 2017 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 2018 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2019 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 2020 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 2 |
| 2021 | 14 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 2022 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 2023 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 2024 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| TOTALS | 108 | 20 | 63 | 12 |