Kirby Smart Says SEC, Big Ten Are 'Stronger' Than Other Conferences Amid CFP Talks

Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart expressed his belief Tuesday that the SEC and Big Ten are a cut above the other FBS college football conferences.

According to ESPN's David Hale, Smart said: "Two conferences are stronger than others, and if you don't agree with that, then you probably just don't know college football."

Smart made the comment while speaking at SEC Media Days amid ongoing discussions regarding the evolution of the College Football Playoff.

Per Hale, Smart voiced support for the idea of adding a ninth conference game for SEC teams, as well as the proposed "5+11" CFP model.

However, Smart also expressed concern over how a larger conference schedule might impact teams from deeper conferences in the SEC and Big Ten when it comes to CFP consideration.

More conference games may mean more potential losses, and that could adversely affect the chances of SEC and Big Ten teams making it into the CFP field.

Assuming the CFP expands from its current 12-team format to 16 in the near future as is widely expected, a couple of different systems for determining the field have been discussed.

ESPN's Heather Dinich reported in May that the "5+11" format was "gaining traction" following the SEC spring meetings.

The 5+11 model would give the five highest-rated conference champions automatic bids into the CFP, followed by 11 at-large bids.

While there is a great deal of support behind that idea, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg reported last week that the Big Ten favors a system in which the SEC and Big Ten would receive four auto bids each, while the Big 12 and ACC would each receive two auto bids.

"I think the best representative model of the best teams is probably the 5-plus-11 model, but I don't think that's a consensus in the SEC," Smart told ESPN's Heather Dinich. "... There's been a major strain put on the colleges that are borderline, bubble. These coaches just want an opportunity to get in that because the bigger the playoffs have gotten, it's minimized the bowls.

"You're sitting at a mid-tier SEC program, and you need to have a reason for your fan base to be excited. You need an opportunity for your fan base to think they've got a chance, and that's hard in some of the models."

There may be some merit behind the idea of loading up the CFP field with SEC and Big Ten teams since the past six national champions have come from those conferences, including the reigning champs in Ohio State.

Five of the top six teams in the final Associated Press Top 25 Poll for the 2024 season were from the SEC or Big Ten as well.

On top of that, the six teams with the best odds to win the 2025-26 CFP national title are from the SEC or Big Ten, per FanDuel.

Of course, the balance of power can shift in college football from one year to the next as rosters turn over, but as things currently stand, it is difficult to argue against Smart's notion that the SEC and Big Ten rule the roost.