Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has reportedly agreed to be the next head coach at Georgia. But before he takes the reins in Athens, Smart will stay with the Crimson Tide through their expected run in the College Football Playoff.
If Alabama, which is currently ranked No. 2, knocks off No. 18 Florida in Saturday’s SEC title game in Atlanta, it is a shoo-in to land in the Top 4 of the final College Football Playoff rankings. If that comes to fruition, CBS Sports, citing Alabama color analyst (and former Cleveland Browns GM) Phil Savage, is reporting that Smart will continue to serve in his role as Alabama defensive coordinator in the postseason.
Kirby Smart will stay at Alabama through the College Football Playoff process before heading to Georgia to become the Bulldogs' coach, Alabama color analyst Phil Savage told CBS Sports on Thursday.
Savage cited “two people close to the program” as sources. Savage is also executive director of the Senior Bowl and former Cleveland Browns general manager. He made the same assertion regarding Smart's future Thursday while appearing on SiriusXM College Sports Radio.
Georgia has not yet acknowledged the bevy of reports saying that Smart is the man who will succeed Mark Richt.
Smart has been at Alabama for the past nine seasons, including eight seasons as defensive coordinator, and has helped the program win three national titles. He played collegiately at Georgia as a defensive back and also had two stints as an assistant with the Bulldogs.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which first reported Smart’s hire, said Smart prefers to wait until after Saturday’s game for Georgia to announce him as the Bulldogs’ new head coach.
For more Georgia news, visit UGASports.com.
For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
