Alabama, Georgia on track to meet again
Georgia coach Kirby Smart gave mentor Nick Saban and Alabama a run for their money in the national championship game – and did it again in the offseason.
Smart brought in the nation’s top recruiting class and stayed on point with Saban-like messages about guarding against complacency and embracing the pressure of high expectations while dismissing potential as “dormant ability.”
“We can’t allow complacency to slip into our program and slip into our staff because I know that will eat away at the core fundamentals that we started to believe,” Smart said during SEC media days.
Clearly a sentiment Saban would endorse.
Alabama and defending SEC champion Georgia could very well be on a collision course for a championship again, though it’s more likely to be a meeting in the league title game this time. The Tide didn’t win the West last season after falling to Auburn in the regular-season finale.
The Crimson Tide approaches the season widely regarded as the favorite to win a sixth national title in the last decade. That overtime win over his former defensive coordinator’s team did leave Saban with a monthslong quarterback controversy: Heralded championship game hero Tua Tagovailoa vs. two-year starter Jalen Hurts .
But neither mentor nor star pupil wanted their teams dwelling on that game or last season.
“We’re constantly looking for the next edge…” Smart said.
Saban’s message to his team: “Forget about what happened last year.”
The league welcomes five new head coaches, including Saban disciples Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M and Jeremy Pruitt at Tennessee. Fisher returned to his SEC Western Division roots from Florida State after past stints at LSU and Auburn with a 10year, $75 million deal .
Some other things to know about the SEC in 2018:
THE FAVORITES
East: Georgia. The clear division front-runner after making it to the brink of the Bulldogs’ first national title since 1980.
West: Alabama. With enviable quarterback options and strong front lines, the Tide remains the team to beat – even after a runner-up division finish to rival Auburn.