The debate over Ryan Day and Kirby Smart’s coaching legacies has sparked heated discussions in the college football world. While both have led powerhouse programs, the comparison between Ohio State’s Day and Georgia’s Smart simply doesn’t hold water—and one glaring reason stands out: championships.
Kirby Smart has built a dynasty at Georgia, winning back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, and positioning his team for another strong run this season. Under Smart’s leadership, Georgia has become the gold standard of college football, combining elite recruiting, defensive dominance, and a killer instinct in big games.
Ryan Day, on the other hand, has struggled to break through on the sport’s biggest stage. Despite inheriting a loaded Ohio State program from Urban Meyer, Day’s teams have consistently fallen short of expectations in the postseason. The Buckeyes’ closest brush with glory under Day came in the 2020 season, when they lost decisively to Alabama in the national championship game.
Critics argue that Day’s record against top-tier opponents—and his inability to win a national title—diminishes his standing among the sport’s elite coaches. While his regular-season success is undeniable, with an impressive win percentage and Big Ten dominance, his 1-3 record against Michigan and lack of playoff hardware tell a different story.
“Kirby Smart’s teams find ways to win championships,” said one analyst. “Ryan Day’s teams find ways to come up short.”
Until Day hoists a national championship trophy, the comparison to Smart will remain lopsided. For now, Smart’s dominance places him in a league of his own, leaving Day with everything to prove as the pressure mounts in Columbus.
