Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is probably the best in the country, but both before and after the retirement of Nick Saban, he has struggled a bit when it comes to beating the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Smart knows he will have his hands full again in this weekend’s showdown in Tuscaloosa, and with Alabama sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell playing like the best in the country right now, it will be quite the test for his defense. While speaking to the media ahead of the game, Smart offered some serious praise to the former five-star.

Kirby Smart knew Keelon Russell was special before he ever got to Alabama. “Probably the best quarterback in the country coming out.”

Now? Elite arm strength. Pocket awareness. Accuracy. Savvy. “He’s very talented.” #DawgNation pic.twitter.com/mK5btNZGgW

— DawgNation (@DawgNation) October 5, 2026

“I knew about him in high school and watched his high school tape,” Smart said. “He was an elite player, probably the best quarterback in the country coming out. Then he kind of goes away and disappears for a year, re-appears and is just unbelievable. Savvy, arm strength, pocket awareness, people will make him out to be a runner but he doesn’t run unless he has to…he scrambles to throw, scrambles to run, he’s accurate, he’s smart. He is very talented.”

If Alabama is going to have a shot at defeating Georgia, Russell is going to have to have a big night against by far the best defense he has seen to this point in his college career. On the flip side, if the Dawgs want to leave Tuscaloosa with their first victory in Bryant-Denny Stadium since 2007, limiting Russell will be a key focus of their game plan.

Time will tell which side gives in first, and the answer to that question could determine the winner.