Paul Finebaum reveals who he would pick as his head coach between Nick Saban, Kirby Smart

Over the last two decades, Nick Saban has built a phenomenal resume and established himself as one of the best head coaches the college football game has ever seen. And after working alongside Saban for nine years, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has made a strong case as well in his seven years with the Bulldogs.

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum was asked a tough question about the two college football titans on ‘McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning‘. Hypothetically, if he had his own university, who would he want to be his head coach between Saban and Smart?

“For one year? Or are we talking about building a franchise?” Finebaum asked. “Because I think there’s a big distinction, and it’s not only age, because I think Nick Saban has overcome a great deal. I think his age is not a factor.”

Saban will turn 72 years old in the midst of this year’s football season, but he hasn’t seemed to lose a step throughout his head coaching career. He’s entering his 18th season at the helm for Alabama and his 29th season overall as a collegiate head coach. In that span, he’s secured 15 SEC West division titles, 10 SEC Championships, and seven national championships.

Last season the Crimson Tide finished the year 11-2, capped off by a win in the Sugar Bowl. But they did not appear in the SEC Championship or the College Football Playoffs, serving as somewhat of a disappointment compared to the insanely high standard that Saban has created for himself and the Alabama program over the course of his career.

But as far as building a program, Finebaum with the hot hand in Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, whose coming off of back-to-back national championship wins and is seemingly in the process of building college football’s next dynasty.

“But I think Kirby Smart right now has a better handle on the sport, I just think Kirby Smart right now has a better operation,” Finebaum admitted.

In just his second season as Georgia’s head coach, Smart led the Bulldogs to an SEC Championship win and a National Championship appearance, where the Bulldogs were defeated by Saban’s Crimson Tide team. In his seven seasons as Georgia’s head coach, Smart has led the program to five SEC East division championships, two SEC championship wins, and two national championships wins in the last two seasons.

There’s no denying the success of both Saban and Smart, as the two would not only be two of the best options for starting a college program, but likely the consensus top two coaches currently in college football.