Kirby Smart’s Recruiting Aggression Sees No Reward as National Analyst Leaves Georgia Out of CFB Playoffs

As the 2025 college football season begins to take shape, a significant conversation has emerged surrounding Kirby Smart, the head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs, and his aggressive approach to recruiting. Smart’s efforts to continually build one of the most talented rosters in college football have earned Georgia consistent praise and top rankings. However, this year, despite the Bulldogs’ stacked roster and numerous five-star recruits, a notable national analyst has left Georgia out of their projected College Football Playoff (CFP) contenders.

This snub, given the context of Georgia’s continued dominance in recruiting, has raised eyebrows across the college football landscape. What’s the reason for Georgia’s omission from the CFP picture despite its on-paper superiority? Is recruiting alone enough to guarantee success, or does it take more than just talent to succeed at the highest level?

This article delves into the implications of this snub, the aggressive recruiting tactics employed by Kirby Smart, and the broader question of whether recruiting truly equals championships in college football.

Kirby Smart’s Recruiting Philosophy: Aggression at the Core

Since taking the helm at Georgia in 2016, Kirby Smart has made one thing abundantly clear—he intends to build a powerhouse program. Smart’s recruiting philosophy has been centered around attracting top-tier talent, particularly in areas where Georgia has a competitive advantage, such as the fertile high school recruiting grounds of the Southeast.

Smart’s recruiting tactics are aggressive and relentless. He doesn’t just rely on building relationships with high school coaches or trying to bring in top players through traditional methods. Instead, he has taken a proactive approach to securing commitments. Georgia consistently lands top-ranked recruiting classes, and they’re often at or near the top of national rankings.

The Bulldogs have signed the #1 recruiting class in the nation multiple times under Smart, including in 2023, when Georgia brought in an elite group of freshmen, many of whom are expected to contribute immediately.

What stands out about Smart’s approach is his commitment to recruiting depth, not just filling key positions. For instance, even when Georgia has a strong roster of elite wide receivers or defensive linemen, Smart continues to recruit at those positions as though Georgia is starting from scratch. The logic behind this is simple—depth creates competition, and competition pushes players to develop faster, ensuring that Georgia’s program stays competitive year after year.

The Result of Aggressive Recruiting: Success and Controversy

On the field, Georgia’s aggressive recruiting strategy has resulted in consistent success. Under Smart, the Bulldogs have become one of the top teams in the nation, regularly competing for SEC titles and securing regular playoff appearances. Georgia’s 2021 national championship win was a high point for the program, securing its place as an elite force in college football.

However, Smart’s recruiting dominance has also stirred controversy. Some critics argue that Georgia’s reliance on high-level talent has created an imbalanced roster where the program’s success is almost entirely built on the back of raw athleticism rather than a well-rounded, team-first mentality. This has been particularly evident in games where Georgia’s overwhelming talent has outmatched opponents, but the Bulldogs struggled against teams with superior coaching or more cohesive game plans.

The 2023 and 2024 seasons saw Georgia go through ups and downs, facing internal and external pressure to secure back-to-back championships. While the Bulldogs were still one of the top teams in college football, they showed vulnerabilities that even the best recruiting classes couldn’t mask.

A lack of consistency on both sides of the ball during critical moments, along with concerns about game management, exposed the limits of relying too heavily on talent. Some analysts began to question whether Smart’s recruiting acumen alone was enough to keep Georgia at the pinnacle of college football.

The Snub: Why Georgia Was Left Out of the CFP Projections

Despite its continued recruiting success and the strong player development Georgia has seen under Smart, a national analyst’s CFP prediction left Georgia out of the playoff picture. This surprising omission raised eyebrows and left many fans and pundits questioning the rationale behind the prediction.

The analyst, who had previously included Georgia in the playoff mix for several years, cited several reasons for leaving the Bulldogs out in 2025. One major factor was the perceived inconsistency in key positions—particularly at quarterback and offensive line—despite the wealth of talent around them. While Georgia boasts one of the most talented rosters in the nation, the analyst raised concerns about Georgia’s ability to win close, high-pressure games against elite teams.

Quarterback play, in particular, became a point of contention. Although Georgia recruited strong quarterbacks, including former five-star recruit Gunner Stockton, there were lingering doubts about whether any of the quarterbacks on the roster were truly capable of leading the team to a national title. Without a clear, dominant signal-caller, Georgia could struggle in critical games against playoff-caliber teams.

Furthermore, Georgia’s offensive line, which had been a strength in the past, showed cracks in 2024. Despite continuing to recruit five-star prospects at every position, Georgia’s offensive line struggled with protection and run-blocking against top defenses. Without a strong offensive line, even Georgia’s incredibly talented skill players might be left out to dry, especially in high-stakes matchups.

The analyst also highlighted game management issues. Despite Smart’s outstanding recruiting efforts, there were moments during recent seasons where Georgia struggled with in-game decision-making, particularly in close contests. If Smart and his coaching staff failed to elevate the Bulldogs’ play in critical moments, it could ultimately prevent Georgia from securing the top spot in the playoffs.

Does Recruiting Alone Guarantee Success?

The omission of Georgia from the CFP projections begs a fundamental question: Does recruiting alone guarantee a spot in the College Football Playoff? Kirby Smart’s recruiting success has undoubtedly been impressive, but as college football becomes more complex and competitive, recruiting might not be enough to secure championships.

As evidenced by Georgia’s 2024 loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game, recruiting can only take a team so far. The Bulldogs’ roster is undoubtedly one of the most talented in the nation, but the development of that talent—and the ability to perform under pressure—are critical in the modern landscape of college football.

Player development, coaching strategy, and consistency in critical moments now play a much larger role in a team’s overall success than recruiting rankings alone. In fact, while teams like Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson have consistently been at the top of recruiting rankings, they’ve also shown an ability to perform in big-game situations, which Georgia has yet to fully prove under Smart.

It’s also important to note that recruiting rankings don’t guarantee a seamless transition from high school to college. Many highly ranked players fail to meet expectations or struggle with the physical and mental demands of college football. While Smart’s success in recruiting is undeniable, the true measure of success comes when those players can consistently perform at the highest level.

Moving Forward: What Does Georgia Need to Reach the Playoffs?

For Georgia to return to the College Football Playoff, Smart will need to make several adjustments. First, the quarterback position must be solidified. Whether it’s Stockton or another player stepping up, Georgia needs a confident, consistent leader under center who can handle the pressure of big games.

Second, the offensive line must improve. It’s one thing to recruit five-star offensive linemen, but it’s another to develop them into a cohesive, dominant unit. Without better protection for the quarterback and more push in the run game, Georgia will continue to face challenges in close matchups against elite defenses.

Finally, Georgia needs to ensure that its coaching staff can rise to the occasion in critical moments. As seen in recent games, Smart’s ability to adjust and make the right calls under pressure will be crucial for success in the playoffs.

Kirby Smart’s recruiting aggression has transformed Georgia into one of the most talented programs in the nation. However, talent alone is not enough to guarantee a spot in the College Football Playoff. Despite Smart’s impressive recruiting classes, Georgia has shown vulnerabilities in key areas, such as quarterback play, offensive line consistency, and game management.

The national analyst’s decision to leave Georgia out of the playoff predictions is a stark reminder that recruiting success must be backed by execution on the field. If Georgia can address these issues and find consistency, Smart’s Bulldogs will remain a formidable force in college football. But until then, the question remains: Is recruiting enough to overcome Georgia’s playoff hurdles?