Paul Finebaum believes Kirby Smart could become the next Nick Saban 👀 | First Take

do you think that Kirby Smart can become Sabin 2.0 with this new cfp format this season absolutely because the morning after he won his second National Championship greeny was asking me is he the king of college football and the answer is yes at that moment but you need time to win as much as Sabin did and Kirby is going to be able to do that because this new cfp format with 12 teams is much more forgiving you don't have to win the SEC to get into the playoffs so this allows for teams to repeatedly get in and with what Kirby has there's no reason that we shouldn't see them every single year as a factor in this which opens the possibility to what you're talking about I totally agree Heather and you think about Kirby Smart he's 4 he's a 47y old Nick Sabin uh and he is Nick Sabin he is he is the best coach in college football and with all due respect to Nick Sabin he was the best coach in college football last year and the year before he has not lost a regular season game since 20 uh one one play in the SEC Championship game cost him very likely a three repeat something that hasn't happened in college football since the 30s he has he studied under stabin he mastered everything that's part of sain's great process and then in many ways he he toppled Savin at the end he lost the big game against Nick sa don't misunderstand me he's lost a Savin twice uh in SEC Championship games one he overcame in the national championship game in 21 but last year they couldn't do it this year Kirby SM would have lost that game and probably still gone on to win the playoffs because of the 12 team playoff but but Kirby Smart really is at the epicenter of college football R right now and I don't think there's anybody on his level uh Paul it's going to be a lot to be dominant over a longer period of time yes they got a better chance to get into the top 12 because obviously more teams out of the SEC they're going to play more games schedule is going to be a little tougher and remember getting into a semi-final is that's that's not what Texas that's not what Georgia is trying to do they're trying to win and same for Texas they're trying to win a championship and now he's got to win at least one extra game in the playoffs because that he's going to have to win an extra game because if even if he's in the top eight he's going to play in a quarterfinal semi-finals and a final he's going to occasionally lose that extra game so he might have a better chance to get in the playoff scenario like last year he didn't because he lost at the wrong time this year that wouldn't occur if it was the same scenario he'd be in but once he's in he's got to win an extra game because there's more games he's going to have to win so he'll lose that extra game once in a while not going to win those extra games all the time so I think it'll be a little harder what s got seven I think could be a little harder to get to that number based on the amount of teams that will have a chance to win a championship at the end of the day doggy uh I don't know what you're talking about I I really don't I mean he can lose it game he can lose a game he can lose a game and if he and and he and he very well may lose a game but he remember this stat I know you love statistics he hasn't lost a regular season game since Florida in 2020 I'm not worried about this guy dropping the game so what if he loses the game at Texas or against miss or he's still going to get in the playoffs and he's still going to dominate like he has and don't forget this three- game stretch I'm talking about Kirby Smart just didn't start there in 2017 he went down to the final play in overtime against Nick Sabin again and lost on that famous Tua to Devonte Smith play I mean this guy is not a Johnny come lately I mean he's been there since 2017 at at at the very top of the game the only problem he's had and it's the same problem everybody else has had he had trouble beating Nick sain breaking news people need to realize this if you play in your conference Championship game and you don't win you have to win four straight games to win the national title I don't care who you are that is extremely difficult but I go back to the point that I made about SAR and Texas is the depth Georgia Ohio state Alabama these are the programs that can reach that and sustain that because of the recruiting depth to be able all through November and then in the playoffs rotate those guys particularly up front and oh by the way having an arch Mania backup quarterback those are the ones that can survive this thing and Georgia can do that especially with a coach like Kirby Smart no he's a great coach but I'm not disputing that but you can't sit there and tell me Paul that it's an easier run to him win a title when he's got to win an extra playoff game you can't say that on a conference as much tougher he's playing at Alabama at Texas Clemson I mean he can't tell me that it is easier because last year how he lost he lost on one play in the championship game after running the table and he didn't even get in the playoffs so EAS it's not going to be easier this year seriously it's easier to get it's easier to get in but once you get in you got to win an extra game but he couldn't get in last year mean you have the catch what he did against against Florida State I mean Florida state was a disgrace Florida point this is not a guy that's worried about again I mean this guy has done everything there is to do and it's now easier to get in the playoffs so he won't have to worry about last year I mean doggy I everything you've said has a modum of sense but mostly you're missing the whole point the playoff benefits Kirby Smart he has a game to burn he has two games to burn I agree with that but they're not in it to make the playoff point oh they're in it to win it and to win it they got to win an extra game how could it be easier when if they're in it to win a title they got to win an extra knockout game to win that title that makes it harder not easier how does that make it easier I understand well they'll they they'll figure out a way to manage doggie I mean this is the best program in college football right now and I'm not saying they're going to win every year but don't forget uh Georgia in in when they won the championship in 21 that that was the first time they had won a national championship since 1980 and Hershel Walker you remember him and uh so so their expectation is to win win now but you know if they don't win the end of the world is not going to happen but they'll win and you know Sabin has six at Alabama and one at LSU Kirby has two he'll he'll he'll make a run at Sabin at some point I mean I realize five five national championships is a lot but he's not even 50 years old yet but you know what guys this does raise up a true and interesting debate about what Will Define a coach's success in the 12 team playoff cuz when you look at Hoops you're like oh yeah you made the tournament but did you make the final four how far can you advance and what is success is it going to be winning a national championship is it going to be getting to that game because that helps answer this question as to what Kirby Smart success is and if he's as good as saving because he has a different challenge he has a different path to the National Title so in reality in retrospect will they even be that comparable I don't know to the answer that to me that's something time will tell that's a very good point there from from Heather it'll be fun to watch 39 days until August 24th when the college football season starts can't wait for it great to see you guys as always have fun in [Music] Dallas so I can Brea [Music]