Kirby Smart reveals Georgia's mindset for Peach Bowl vs Ohio State: 'Hungry Hunters'

Kirby Smart is already a hero for bringing Georgia’s first title in multiple decades to Athens, but the Bulldogs leader is hungry for more.

It’s been evident all season long, but Georgia hasn’t shied away from the target being champions has put on their back. Joining the College GameDay crew ahead of the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against Ohio State, Smart explained how he’s kept his team motivated with a hunter mentality.

“Hungry hunters. I think that’s the only way to hunt,” Smart told Rece Davis. “You got to eat. When you attack a game, you’ve got to attack it that way. I’m sure Ohio State feels the same way.

“There’s one way to go about playing in the Semifinal game, that’s as if it’s the only game you’re guaranteed, and come out aggressive and come out swinging. I know both teams will.”

Continuing, motivating an undefeated squad can be tough work when you’ve taken care of business all season long, but Smart has been masterful at keeping his team’s focus. The Bulldogs leader explained how he’s done it all season long.

“You show them. You show them the tape. You show them the things we’ve done wrong. We didn’t have exactly the perfect SEC Championship Game. We had a lot of things to work on,” Smart told David Pollack. “We talk all the time about how the mighty fall, and what things bring people down. Our team is well connected. We don’t think that you have to have a loss to play your best. Sometimes that does help. I certainly think it helped our team last year. But for us, it’s about how we play and how we do things.

“Our guys have practiced really physical the last couple weeks, and I’m excited to see them go out and play tonight.”

Smart: ‘Our players took a lot of ownership in getting better.’

Alas, Georgia’s defense was one of the best of all time last season, and the NFL picked their bones dry during the 2022 NFL Draft. It was a challenge to get back to their championship level, but Smart told Pat McAfee how it all took shape.

“That moment was not in spring practice. We struggled through that. We had some holes. Our offense attacked us, and we knew we had some ground to make up. It made for a great offseason, great conditioning season over the summer,” explained Smart. “Our players took a lot of ownership in getting better. Our players owned that on the defensive side of the ball. Our offense made us better. Our defensive staff has done an unbelievable job to get us in this position. Our kids go out and play hard.

“We didn’t have our best game last time out defensively, but the offense picked us up.”

Time and time again, Kirby Smart has proven he’s one of the top coaches in America since taking over Georgia, and he can cement himself among the greats with another title this season. Nobody will be betting against him.