Kirby Smart discusses his relationship with longtime mentor Nick Saban

Kirby Smart and Nick Saban worked together from 2007-15. This weekend will mark the second time the two face off in the SEC Championship when No. 1 Georgia faces off against No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.

The last time it happened was in 2018 when Alabama defeated Georgia 35-28.

Smart was asked about his relationship with Saban going back to their time at Alabama on the SEC teleconference, and he gave a great answer.

“Coach and I are both very appreciative of our relationship,” Smart said. “I think a lot of him. He’s meant a lot in my career, as he has a lot of coaches out there in the country. I think you appreciate the job he does more when you’re gone than maybe when you were there because when you move on, you appreciate the fact that he works really hard, he doesn’t ask any of his assistants to do anything that he doesn’t do and he holds everybody to a high standard.

“He and I, we don’t communicate daily or anything, but I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He spent some time in the summer up around where my parents live, but it’s not like we get to keep in touch a lot. We both have our own families and own things going on.”

Kirby Smart vs. Nick Saban: The Series

It’s the third time Smart and Saban will face off, and Saban had the edge the other two times. In addition to the 2018 SEC title game, Alabama defeated Georgia 41-24 in the regular season last year en route to a national championship.

But things are different this time around. Georgia boasts the best defense in the country, holding teams to just 6.9 points per game. Alabama, meanwhile, has the fifth-best offense in the country, to the tune of 42.7 points per game.

It’s going to be the toughest challenge either unit has faced. Georgia hasn’t faced an offense of Alabama’s caliber, and the Crimson Tide haven’t faced a defense like the Bulldogs’. It should be strength vs. strength on Saturday.

The quarterback matchup should also be interesting. Stetson Bennett will once again start under center for Georgia, and he’ll be facing off against Heisman contender Bryce Young. They lead the two best scoring offenses in the SEC — Alabama averages 42.7 points per game and Georgia is right behind with 40.7.

Alabama is an underdog in the game, which kicks off Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on CBS.