Kirby Smart of Georgia Is Brutally Honest About College Football’s Current Situation.

In the ever-evolving world of college football, coaches are often asked about the state of the sport, its challenges, and the direction in which it is heading. Kirby Smart, head coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs, is one of the most successful and outspoken figures in the sport today. As the architect of one of the most dominant programs in recent years, Smart has earned the respect of his peers and the college football world with his candid and often brutally honest takes on the sport.

In a recent interview, Kirby Smart pulled no punches when discussing the current situation in college football. From the impact of the transfer portal to the growing influence of name, image, and likeness (NIL), Smart addressed some of the most pressing issues facing the sport. His comments reflected not just the reality of the changing landscape but also his concerns for the future of the game.

This article explores Kirby Smart’s thoughts on the current state of college football, highlighting the key issues he raised and what they mean for the sport, its players, and its programs.

The Impact of the Transfer Portal

One of the major changes in recent years in college football has been the rise of the transfer portal. The portal has fundamentally altered the way teams recruit and build their rosters. No longer do programs rely solely on high school recruits; now, they must also manage the influx of players from other programs looking for new opportunities. The transfer portal has created a new dynamic in college football, and Kirby Smart, like many other coaches, has expressed concerns about how it is affecting the sport.

Smart, who has built a program that relies on consistent talent development, understands the advantages of bringing in experienced players from the portal, especially when it comes to addressing immediate needs. However, he has also voiced his frustration with the unpredictability and instability that the transfer portal has introduced. Players now have the ability to transfer freely without sitting out a year, which has led to a significant amount of player movement and reshuffling of rosters across the country.

“There are so many more moving parts with the transfer portal now,” Smart said. “It’s not just about getting a recruit out of high school anymore. You’ve got to worry about players leaving, players coming in, and how it all fits together. It’s a challenge for coaches and programs to maintain consistency.”

While Smart recognizes that the transfer portal has created more flexibility for players, he also believes that it has led to an environment of uncertainty. Players are now more likely to leave a program if they’re not immediately seeing playing time or if they believe they can find a better opportunity elsewhere. This constant turnover, Smart argues, can disrupt team chemistry and make it more difficult to build long-term success.

“The transfer portal, in a lot of ways, has changed the whole structure of college football,” Smart explained. “You have to constantly recruit your own players to keep them. If you’re not careful, you could lose a starter to another school, and that can derail your entire season. It’s something we have to learn to adapt to, but it’s a challenge.”

Smart’s comments reflect a larger concern among coaches in the sport: the transfer portal is creating a more transient environment where stability and continuity are harder to come by. While it’s true that the portal can provide teams with valuable talent, it also requires programs to be constantly vigilant and prepared for roster changes. For Georgia, a program that has built its success on strong recruiting and development, this shift is particularly challenging.

Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) Deals: A New Reality

Another major issue that Smart addressed was the growing influence of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals in college football. The introduction of NIL in 2021 allowed college athletes to profit off their name, image, and likeness, and it has had a profound impact on recruiting, team-building, and the overall landscape of college sports.

Smart did not hold back when discussing the challenges that NIL presents for college football. He acknowledged that while NIL offers players opportunities to profit, it has also introduced a level of inequality and uncertainty in recruiting. Programs with larger financial resources are often able to offer better NIL deals, which can sway recruits to choose one school over another.

“You can’t ignore it,” Smart said of NIL. “It’s a game-changer. There are schools out there with more resources, and they can throw around huge amounts of money to get players. That’s the reality now. It’s not just about who has the best facilities or who has the best coaches. Now it’s about who can offer the best NIL opportunities.”

Smart’s comments underscore the growing divide between programs with large financial backers and those without the same resources. At schools like Georgia, which has significant financial resources and a large fan base, NIL is a reality that can help attract top-tier recruits. However, for smaller programs or those without deep-pocketed donors, NIL can create an uneven playing field.

“Some schools are offering NIL deals that are well above what we can do,” Smart explained. “And I think that puts us in a tough spot. We’re trying to recruit the best players, but when there’s a bidding war for talent, it’s hard to compete if you don’t have the financial backing to match what others are offering.”

While NIL has undoubtedly changed the way college football programs operate, it has also led to growing concerns about the direction of the sport. Smart, like many coaches, worries that the increasing role of money in recruiting could undermine the integrity of college football, turning it into a situation where the highest bidder wins.

“This is not professional sports,” Smart emphasized. “It’s supposed to be about developing young men, teaching them the game, and providing them with a platform to succeed. If we’re not careful, we’ll lose sight of what college football is really about.”

The Future of Recruiting: A New Normal?

With the transfer portal and NIL deals now playing such a significant role in college football, Smart’s comments raise important questions about the future of recruiting. Recruiting has always been a competitive and high-stakes endeavor, but the changing landscape has added new layers of complexity to the process.

For Smart and other coaches, the challenge now lies in balancing traditional recruiting efforts with the realities of NIL and the transfer portal. On one hand, recruiting high school talent remains essential for long-term program development. On the other hand, bringing in experienced players through the portal has become an attractive option for immediate help. At the same time, coaches must navigate the ever-growing presence of NIL deals and the influence they have on player decisions.

“We have to find a balance,” Smart said. “We can’t just rely on one part of the process. We have to continue to develop high school players, but we also have to be ready to use the transfer portal when necessary. And, of course, we have to understand the impact of NIL. It’s a new reality that we have to adjust to.”

Smart’s approach to recruiting is indicative of the broader shift in college football. While the traditional emphasis on high school recruiting will not go away, the transfer portal and NIL will play an increasingly important role in shaping the future of the sport. Coaches like Smart will need to adapt to these new dynamics in order to maintain success and build championship-caliber teams.

The NCAA’s Role: A Call for Regulation

As Smart discussed the growing challenges facing college football, he also called for more regulation from the NCAA to help restore some balance to the recruiting process. Specifically, Smart expressed his concerns about the lack of oversight regarding NIL deals and how they are impacting the fairness of recruiting.

“There needs to be some kind of regulation or oversight on NIL,” Smart stated. “Right now, it’s a free-for-all, and that’s not good for the sport. We need to make sure that everyone is playing by the same rules and that we’re not seeing a situation where the richest schools have an unfair advantage.”

Smart’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among coaches, administrators, and fans who feel that NIL has become a “wild west” situation. Without clear rules and guidelines, there are concerns that NIL could lead to a situation where recruiting becomes purely about financial offers, rather than the traditional values of developing talent and building a successful program.

“I think the NCAA has to step in and figure out a way to make this work,” Smart continued. “We want our players to have opportunities, but we also want the game to stay fair. Right now, it’s just too chaotic.”