Kirby Smart calls out Greg Sankey, SEC to his face over 2024 schedule

Georgia found itself in a familiar position Saturday night, on the podium as SEC Champions in Atlanta. Despite two regular season losses, Kirby Smart and his team found a way to win what many consider college football’s best conference. All it took was the toughest schedule Georgia has faced in quite some time.

Three massive road games — Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas — took place this season. And after going through the gauntlet, Smart says winning the SEC and earning a bye in the College Football Playoff will earn his team some well-deserved respect.

While doing so, Smart called out SEC commissioner Greg Sankey for the schedule Georgia faced. The ABC camera caught Sankey’s reaction as well, not standing too far away from Smart and Laura Rutledge.

You can check out the full moment here.

This is incredible.

As Kirby absolutely rips Greg Sankey for Georgia’s schedule, the cameraman pans over to Sankey’s priceless reaction 😂

Give that cameraman the Emmy pic.twitter.com/FA9ihBezDv

— Adam Spencer (@AdamSpencer4) December 8, 2024

To say Sankey does not look amused would be an understatement. In the commissioner’s defense, the reaction stayed the same while the camera was on him. Maybe something he will discuss with Smart when they are not on national television.

A slew of good news is there for Smart regarding the topic, though. The first is something he already mentioned as Georgia will get multiple weeks of rest before their next game. A bye is guaranteed after winning the SEC as other teams will battle in the first round.

Sometime around New Year’s is when UGA will take the field again. Over 20 days before stepping back on the field is huge for a team dealing with multiple injuries, most notably quarterback Carson Beck.

Looking ahead to next year, Georgia should spend a time of time in Athens. All three of those big-time matchups will take place inside Sanford Stadium. Just three true road games are on the 2025 schedule due to the Georgia Tech game taking place inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But there is not much time to worry about next season right now. Georgia is still in the midst of a race to win the national championship, with or without Sankey’s scheduling help.