Kirby Smart’s record coming off a bye week

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is 7-1 coming off bye weeks during his time at UGA. Smart and Georgia typically have a bye week ahead of the Florida Gators game. That remains the case in 2024.

However, this year, Georgia has two bye weeks. Georgia has one bye ahead of its Sept. 28 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Week 5. Georgia’s second bye week is ahead of the Georgia-Florida game.

If you include two postponed games in 2020, Smart’s record improves to 9-1 following bye weeks. Increased time for preparation helps Georgia’s cause during the Kirby Smart era.

“You know, it’s always about improvement. I mean, you know, we’re better never rest,” said Smart during Georgia’s bye week ahead of the Alabama game. “We’re trying to get better all the time, so I’ve never had a bye week that I’ve ever had in all my years coaching that wasn’t about improvement.”

The bye week also offers Georgia a chance to heal ahead of the Alabama game. The Bulldogs are banged up along the defensive line and should be healthier against the Crimson Tide.

Kirby Smart’s career results at UGA after a regular-season bye week

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart and UGA has an extra week to prepare after earning a narrow win over the Kentucky Wildcats at Kroger Field. Tanner Pearson-Imagn Images

2023: Georgia 43, Florida 20

2022: Georgia 42, Florida 20

2021: Georgia 34, Florida 7

2020: Georgia 49, Missouri 14 (came off postponed game)

2020: Georgia 31, Mississippi State 24 (came off postponed game)

2020: Georgia 14, Kentucky 3

2019: Georgia 24, Florida 17

2018: Georgia 36, Florida 17

2017: Georgia 42, Florida 7

2016: Florida 24, Georgia 10