Kirby Smart Declares He Will 'Never' Apologize for Winning SEC Championship

Georgia Bulldogs head coach says conference titles are the 'hardest thing to do in sports'

Apr. 13, 2026 at 3:27pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a Georgia Bulldogs football game, with players and the field reduced to abstract geometric shapes and planes of color, capturing the intensity and complexity of the sport.Kirby Smart's unwavering pride in Georgia's SEC championship success reflects the program's high expectations and the challenge of balancing short-term achievements with long-term title aspirations.Atlanta Today

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart has declared that he will never apologize or feel guilty for winning an SEC championship, despite the team's recent failures to reach the College Football Playoff national title game. Smart acknowledged the difficulty of winning a conference title in the SEC and said he takes great pride in reaching the SEC Championship game, which he views as a better atmosphere than the Super Bowl.

Why it matters

Smart's comments reflect the high expectations and pressure surrounding the Georgia football program, which has won two national titles and three SEC championships under his leadership but has fallen short of the ultimate goal of winning another national title since 2022. The coach's refusal to apologize for conference success highlights the challenge of balancing short-term achievements with long-term championship aspirations.

The details

Since Kirby Smart took over as Georgia's head coach in 2016, the Bulldogs have won two national titles, three SEC championships, and made multiple appearances in the College Football Playoff. However, the team has failed to win another national championship since 2022, leading to increased frustration among fans demanding more success. Despite this, Smart has declared that he will never apologize for winning SEC titles, which he views as the 'hardest thing to do in sports' due to the strength of the conference.

  • Georgia has won back-to-back SEC Championship titles for the first time in program history.
  • The Bulldogs last won a national championship in 2022.

The players

Kirby Smart

The head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs football team, who has led the program to two national titles and three SEC championships since taking over in 2016.

Roquan Smith

A former Georgia linebacker who played under Kirby Smart and celebrated with the coach after winning the 2017 SEC Championship game.

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What they’re saying

“I will never apologize for winning an SEC title. I think it's the hardest thing to do in sports, to win the SEC title in almost any sport. Our conference is so hard, and when we went to 16 teams, and it made it harder.”

— Kirby Smart, Head Coach, Georgia Bulldogs

What’s next

Georgia's quest for a third national title will begin on Saturday, September 5th, when the team hosts Tennessee State for the season opener. Georgia has never lost a season opener under Kirby Smart and is currently undefeated against non Power Four teams.

The takeaway

Kirby Smart's unwillingness to apologize for winning SEC championships reflects the high standards and expectations surrounding the Georgia football program, which has experienced tremendous success under his leadership but is still seeking to capture another national title. The coach's comments highlight the challenge of balancing short-term conference achievements with the long-term goal of winning a national championship.