Paul Finebaum clarifies his point on Dabo Swinney vs. Kirby Smart

Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney are two of the best coaches in all of college football. On one hand, Smart is a reigning national champion after leading the Bulldogs to a 66-15 record since he arrived. On the other, Swinney is entering Year 15 with the Tigers with two College Football Playoff victories.

During a previous episode of the Paul Finebaum Show, Finebaum was of the opinion that Smart was the better coach over Swinney. Those comments didn’t go over too well with the Clemson fanbase, so much so that one called back into the show Monday to discuss. Finebaum doubled-down yet reclarified his point about the pair of coaches.

“A lot of people who have reacted to my comments need to understand the context. I can look at a record book as easily as you can and we can add it up and come to any conclusion we want. I just said Kirby Smart is where college football is right now. Dabo Swinney is yesterday’s news,” said Finebaum. “A lot of people insinuated that as me saying (Swinney) is dead. I’m just saying Kirby is better right now and that’s how I feel based on what I see. I analyze college football in the moment. I’m not a historian, I’m an analyst.”

Based on that logic, Finebaum is correct. Smart and the Bulldogs are at the top of the sport after a 14-1 season and a win over Alabama in the title game. Swinney hasn’t completely disappeared, though. Although their last title came in 2018, Clemson had made the playoff six straight years before last season.

He may have meant no disrespect but, in Finebaum’s eyes, Smart is the present and is the closest thing the sport has to the best in the game.

“Don’t give me five years ago. (Dabo) is still here. I would say Dabo Swinney is the third best coach in college football. Is that an insult? No,” said Finebaum. “I’m just saying Kirby is better than he is. The coach closest to Nick Saban in college football is Kirby Smart.”

When you’re comparing coaches of this caliber, you’re splitting hairs by the end of it. Some may agree with Finebaum while others will continue to ride with Swinney. Both are among the best college football has to offer, so much so that we could see them come together to play in the CFP.