Kirby Smart credits Kentucky for physicality, playing "hard-nosed football"

Kentucky may be going home with a loss, but Georgia came away impressed with the Wildcats’ fight in Athens.

In a battle between two top-15 programs, Kentucky fell by a final score of 30-13, covering the spread and putting the same number of points on the board against the Bulldogs as Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson and Vanderbilt combined. It was also the second-lowest point total Georgia managed on the year and tied for the most points allowed.

“They have a really good football team.”

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had nothing but praise for the Kentucky program following his team’s victory on Saturday. At the end of the day, Smart says UK has a “really good football team,” end of story.

“I’m proud of our guys today,” Smart said. “That was a really physical football team we played. Every single time we play them it’s just tough. They play tough, hard‐nosed football; do a tremendous job in all three phases. They don’t make many mistakes, and when you have a team like that, you have to beat them methodically.

“It’s tough, they have a really good football team.”

“Give Kentucky credit.”

Georgia has a historic defense, one Mark Stoops compared to the 1985 Chicago Bears leading up to the matchup. UGA has established itself as the firm national title favorite through seven weeks for a reason.

But Smart says Kentucky deserves its credit, regardless of what the final score shows.

“Proud of our guys. I thought our DNA showed through. Our DNA continues to repeatedly show up – composure, connection, resiliency, and toughness – those qualities come through in this team,” Smart said. “At halftime, nobody was panicked, nobody was nervous. It’s a physical football game and we’re going to stay aggressive, keep coming at them.

“Give them a lot of credit, they have a good football team, but I’m proud of our guys and the way so many players have risen up and rose to the occasion.”

Kentucky put the ball in the endzone and fought, something most teams haven’t been able to do against Georgia this season.

“They did a good job,” he said. “(Kentucky) was keeping us off-balance, nickel and diming us. They fought tooth and nail. Give Kentucky credit, they got in (the endzone) twice.”