Kirby Smart could have been excused late Saturday night if he didn’t feel like waxing poetic about the epic game he just coached.

Georgia’s head coach is used to being on the right side of games like Saturday’s, but this time Smart was on the wrong side of a pulsating SEC showdown in Tuscaloosa as Alabama once again broke the Bulldogs’ hearts with a 41-34 victory.

Georgia’s 44-game regular-season winning streak, which Smart is primarily responsible for, came to an end, and Smart has led the Bulldogs to two national titles. Of course, their bid for a third straight championship was thwarted by, who else, Alabama, in last season’s SEC Championship Game. Back to Saturday’s heartbreak, which Smart had a lot to say about afterwards.

“Well, of course, a great game. Great atmosphere. Much respect to the Alabama team, their fans, the venue. It was a great match,” Smart said. “Tale of two halves. Obviously we weren’t really prepared and that’s on me.”

Smart knows the Bulldogs will have to dust themselves off quickly and get ready for Auburn next Saturday in Athens.

“For us, humility is always a week away,” Smart said. “We have to prepare for a new strong opponent coming towards us.”

Smart was asked if he was 1-6 against Alabama after Saturday’s heartbreaker.

“I don’t know, what’s everyone else’s track record, you know?” Slim said. “Does anyone have one better than 1-6, which has been played six times? I don’t think so. I think they have very good players. They have a great program. I have gained enormous respect for them.”

One of those really good players is 17-year-old freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams, who hauled in the 75-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Milroe – also a very good player – with just over 2 minutes left, which was the difference in the game .

“They’ve got a guy there at quarterback who could be the best runner in the country, and he’s throwing the ball. You can’t put two people on Ryan Williams. You can’t do that, Smart said. “You’ve got to make (Milroe) throws. We have known Ryan for a long time. He came to visit us several times. He’s such a great kid. He is extremely fast and elusive, and he has great ball skills.”

These two giants could meet again, in Atlanta for another SEC Championship Game showdown or even afterward in the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. So Smart may not be done with Alabama for the 2024 season.