re: Nick Saban (2008-2014) vs Kirby Smart (2017-2023)

quote:

---

Kirby and Saban have a lesser version of the Switzer-Osborne dynamic.

---

Osborne nor Switzer ever played more than one team a season with a pulse until they played a single solitary bowl game against the second team with a pulse they faced all season. Neither was a coach in the same league as Saban. Smart may be better than Saban but it’s highly unlikely he will coach more than about 15 years or so given the grind that is HCing in the era of the portal, NIL, conference championships and multiple playoff games against good teams required to win a natty today.

If you look at the way Osborne and Switzer won nattys any natty won in the CFP era is equivalent to winning at least 2 if not 3 post season games that would have passed for national championship games in their time. Either may have won a natty but neither ever won 3 games in a season against teams with a pulse.