Urban Meyer: Kirby Smart is not the best coach in college football

116 wins – 20 losses. That is Kirby Smart’s record approaching the end of his 10th season as Georgia’s head coach. Win No. 116, which came over Georgia Tech on Black Friday, set an FBS record for the most wins in 10 seasons by a head coach in the modern era. Smart has brought two national titles to his alma mater, breaking the 41-year drought in 2021 and then going back-to-back in 2022. In 2025, the 49-year-old coach has led the Dawgs to an 11-1 record and their eighth SEC Championship Game appearance in 10 years.

That is a whole lot of winning. UGA’s former defensive back turned mastermind is on a run that is unrivaled by almost anyone in the history of the sport. As undeniable as his dominance has been at Georgia, Kirby still doesn’t have everyone’s stamp of approval as college football’s best coach.

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Last week on “The Triple Option” podcast, former Florida Gators (2005-2010) and Ohio State Buckeyes (2012-2018) HC Urban Meyer was asked to rank his top three current coaches in the game. The Bulldogs’ former rival did not have Kirby Smart at No. 1.

Meyer’s list in order was Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, and Dabo Swinney.

“I have Ryan Day, Kirby Smart, Dabo [Swinney],” Meyer said. “I just know how hard it is to win a national title, and they won two. Coach Day’s won one. So, I have them there. You’re ‘the man,’ until someone beats the man.”

While Day and Ohio State are the defending national champions, the Buckeyes did face off with UGA and Kirby Smart in the 2022 College Football Playoff. As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Day, the Dawgs beat Ohio State on a missed OSU field goal. Georgia would end Ohio State’s season and advance, where they would win their second straight national championship.