The SEC is widely regarded by the majority of fans as the best conference in college football. And Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart took that argument a bit further during a press conference on Tuesday.
Smart was asked by a reporter what the importance of facing the Kentucky Wildcats, their first ranked opponent of the season in Week 6 was. He downplayed the importance of Kentucky’s ranking, wildly proclaiming that he believes every team in the SEC should be ranked.
“I personally think every SEC team should be ranked,” said Smart, via Michael Bratton on Twitter. “I can guarantee you there are some teams that don’t want to play them that are ranked. Every team we play in the SEC is good enough to beat us. Whether they are ranked or not, I could care less. I’m trying to be more physical than them and outscore them. That’s the only thing I’m concerned with, not their ranking.”
Kirby Smart speaking the truth about the depth of the SEC:
"I personally think every SEC team should be ranked.
"I can guarantee you there are some teams that don't want to play them that are ranked.
He also added, "every team we play in the SEC is good enough to beat us." pic.twitter.com/8SwR4YZLDk
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) October 4, 2023
It’s certainly a hot take. And fans offered their opinion of these comments on social media.
what a ridiculous statement
— Derek5254 (@derek5254) October 4, 2023
If everybody loved themselves half as much as the SEC loves themselves we wouldn’t have a mental depression issue in this country.
— Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) October 4, 2023
UNLV handled Vandy, so does that mean the Rebels should be ranked ahead of Vandy? IJS
— Joe Arrigo (@joearrigofsm) October 4, 2023
https://twitter.com/calgude/status/1709354089996497230
No
Ask LSU, S Carolina, Bama, Texas A&M and Florida how it was playing OOC and how it worked out https://t.co/OvLOSqzdtM— John Michaels (@JohnMichaelsU) October 4, 2023
Oh brother… Same SEC that’s been getting killed in non conference games thus far this season? https://t.co/bpa9OjNXlw
— C.J. Wilson (@CjWilson850) October 4, 2023
Just half of the SEC is currently ranked inside the AP Top 25. And there are a number of non-ranked SEC teams that have yet to lose out of conference, including Auburn and Mississippi State. For those teams, there is certainly an argument that they could be ranked without their struggles against the top of the SEC.
However, a team like Vanderbilt undoubtedly disproves Smart’s point. Vanderbilt is just 2-2 outside of SEC play, and has some bad losses to the likes of UNLV and Wake Forest.
Regardless, it’s very clear that Smart is confident in the depth of the SEC. And it will sure be interesting to see how Georgia fares in their biggest game of the year thus far.
