As Georgia prepares to face a challenging matchup against Alabama, the same old rivalry question has surfaced again. Can Kirby Smart lead his boys to a victory without Bama’s former head coach Nick Saban? Although Georgia is undefeated with a 3-0 record till now in the college football season, their tight 13-12 win over Kentucky raised concern among fans. For years, fans have hoped to watch what the Bulldogs can achieve once Saban stepped aside, and the upcoming matchup could offer early access to what it will look like. As per Josh Pate, a college football analyst who’s famous for his brutal comments, this is not just a game—it’s a “gut-check moment” for Kirby Smart and Georgia.

In a recent episode of Josh Pate‘s college football show, he shared his views on the upcoming Georgia vs. Alabama game. “If your first shot at Alabama without Nick Saban ends up at a loss, that’s tough. That’s a tough pill to swallow,” Pate said, pointing at how crucial this game is going to be for Georgia and Kirby Smart. Given past game records against Nick Saban and his boys, Smart has secured only one win for the six games they have played against each other, as remembered by Pate on his show.

He further explained that Georgia had come close to winning the game against Alabama a few times but always fell short, facing Nick Saban’s coaching expertise. Now with Saban out of the story, Smart holds a chance to prove Georgia’s worth in the college football world. But Pate suggested that if Georgia loses this game, the doubts surrounding their capabilities will start emerging.

He then explained how a loss could impact Georgia for a long time. “Psychologically, if your first crack at Alabama without Saban leads to a loss, it’s not just a regular loss. You start wondering if Georgia will ever be able to climb over the hump,” Pate said, adding the fact that there are fans who have been waiting to see Georgia take down Alabama. That’s why the pressure surrounding this game is too much. Furthermore, he highlighted that if Georgia loses to Alabama, even without Saban’s presence, it will cast doubt on their position in the SEC.

He explained that Georgia is currently in a scenario where, even if they lose to Alabama, they still have a chance of making it to the playoffs or winning the SEC this year. However, the damage such a loss could inflict on Georgia fans would be irreparable, highlighting the significance of this crucial matchup. Now, let’s take a look at where Georgia stands in the SEC right now.

Kirby Smart and Georgia before Alabama face-off

Georgia is riding high into the season, given two major wins in the first two weeks of college football. They started with a 34-3 victory over Clemson, highlighting their powerful defense. Moreover, star quarterback Carson Beck remained the show-stealer, throwing 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Moving forward into the second week, Georgia faced Tennessee Tech and secured a 48-3 easy win. In that game, Georgia showcased their top-notch offense, especially the contributions of running back Kendall Milton, who ran for over 150 yards and scored two touchdowns. After that comes the game against Kentucky, for which Georgia became the target of the critics.

Although Carson Beck managed to secure 15-24 passes for 160 passing yards, they took longer to win the game. Throughout this game, Georgia struggled offensively and scored only three points each of the two quarters. Until halftime, Kentucky maintained a narrow lead. however resuming into the second half, Georgia found its rhythm and contributed to a 3-yard touchdown run by Robinson in the fourth quarter, ultimately leading them a late lead. besides, the game against Alabama is going to be a measuring stick for Kirby Smart to maintain the program’s legacy in the SEC.