An exclusive conversation with Georgia head coach Kirby Smart at the Regions Tradition sparked headlines, debate and national media coverage across the college football world.
What started as a conversation at the Regions Tradition quickly became a national college football story.
The Next Round sat down with Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart at the Regions Tradition Pro-Am for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of college football. Smart shared his thoughts on the Big Ten’s recent success, the changing balance of power between conferences, NIL, roster construction and just how different today’s teams are from the powerhouse Alabama teams he helped coach under Nick Saban.
It didn’t take long for the rest of the sports world to take notice.
Smart’s comments were picked up by On3, Yahoo Sports, Sports Illustrated, FootballScoop, Saturday Down South and other sports media outlets, turning moments from The Next Round’s interview into stories and conversations reaching college football fans across the country.
The interview also made its way to The Pat McAfee Show, where McAfee and his crew brought the conversation to an even larger national audience.
Two topics in particular took off: Smart’s assessment of why the Big Ten has gained ground on the SEC and his take that the Alabama teams he coached from 2012–2015 had a level of depth that today’s college football rosters simply can’t match.
For The Next Round, seeing the interview travel far beyond our own platforms is exactly what original sports media is all about.
One conversation. Multiple national headlines. And another reminder that some of the biggest stories in sports can start right here at The Next Round.
On3
Kirby Smart reveals why Big Ten surged past SEC: “They have a more competitive conference”
Kirby Smart claims Alabama's best teams of early 2010s 'would beat the dog out of' modern teams
Kirby Smart offers theories on the Big Ten's run of dominance
Yahoo Sports
Sports Illustrated
Kirby Smart Drops Oregon Detail in SEC vs. Big Ten Debate
FootballScoop
Kirby Smart says 2012–15 Alabama teams would “go Clubber Lang” on today’s teams
Saturday Down South
Kirby Smart says 2012–15 Alabama teams would “beat the dog” out of modern teams