UGA & Kirby Smart's Season Grade - Josh Pate Cut

UGA and Kirby Smart had mixed results during the 2024 season in Athens. On Josh Pate's College Football Show Ep 605 Josh Pate took a look at everything from the big wins over Texas in the regular season and again in the SEC Championship Game to a crushing defeat in the College Football Playoff against Notre Dame. Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel and CLICK THE BELL for notifications as we bring you multiple live shows per week!
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[@JoshPateCFB]

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[@markgelbart5889]

Kirby Smart did it with smoke and mirrors this year. Georgia had no elite receivers or running backs and played one of the toughest schedules in the nation. I give Georgia an A- for winning the SEC, but Kirby Smart gets an A+.

[@WallyMerc06]

Yeah Kirby coached his ass off this year.

[@staceymoore1300]

Could agree more! Can we just talk about that brutal schedule? That is all!

[@HondoHoss77]

Somehow this season, not the back to back champ years, is the reason why Kirby is an ELITE coach. Our team was tragic, WR’s were volleyball players, our offensive line was hurt all year, and we STILL won the SEC. Kirby is amazing.

[@WahooYess]

They played above the setbacks. Offense had a revolving door at every position but TE and QB…until they didn’t have their starter in their biggest game. They had a very rough schedule. The Bama loss could have led to another quick loss. They won the SECCG with a back up. I agree that the position coaches need some shakeup especially oline and WR.

[@levirushing]

@@WahooYess We already fixed our WR coaching position by bringing in James Cooley last off season. Receivers dropping balls isn’t something that falls onto the position coach. The real issue was the talent the last WR coach was bring in isn’t up to par with what UGA should be bringing in. But if you look at who Cooley is bringing in this year, it’s clear that’s being fixed.

[@highlandroberts2053]

As a uga student, A+, what Kirby’s done for our school and getting to go here during all the success has been the highlight of my college years

[@Phoenix_Martin345]

Agreed. A down year for Ga or Bama is not the same thing as a down year for most teams.

[@matthewrambles2021]

B+ Georgia's success had a lot to do with the rest of the conference being down. With that being said Kirby deserves an A+ for his coaching of this team. A team that couldn't run the ball, couldn't deal with hurry up or a running QB, and was allergic to catching passes won the SEC, just insane.

[@lawrencecarpenter1147]

A-…. We won the SEC. With all the player troubles such as injuries and mental struggles. We prevailed. We lost two hard away games and didn’t have our starter(who didn’t play even good) but still had a back up

[@earthdrawn]

While I don’t disagree with anything you said, what stands out is the one point I don’t think you made, which is that Georgia -objectively- played the *hardest schedule in the nation*, and did so with all the faults and shortcomings that you rightly described, and still won the SEC and made the playoffs. That’s a testament to the caliber of players and the effectiveness of coaches. Call me a homer if you want to, but I’ll see your B+ and raise you an A- because I think the feat was impressive enough to warrant a grade higher, and I don’t hold the success of 2021-2022 against them.

[@hunternixonfishing2500]

This was maybe the worst roster Kirby has had at UGA since he’s been there and he still won an sec championship out of it. He’s still the best coach in college football right now. We aren’t going away

[@Phoenixrising4799]

B. SEC Championship and wins over Clemson, Texas, and Tennessee were nice. Drops, INT’s, injuries, schedule, and losses to Bama, Ole Miss were dreadful. They got dealt a tough hand with the Notre Dame game.

[@jacobkarnes]

Georgia fan here - B+ is exactly the grade I would give. They didn't win the title or make the semifinal, which is the expectation for Georgia under Kirby. But you still accomplished beating all your rivals, making and winning the conference championship, and making the playoff. It's not an A, but B+ feels right. You could honestly argue that Kirby did more with less this year. The roster was not as good as the last three years, and they lost 2 WR starters early for the year.

[@Ghost_618nation]

U do realise Kirby lost his dad clown the day after the playoff game

[@BB-ce5ev]

​His dad was a clown?

[@Aviator-Chicken]

Kirby took the worst WR Core, a mediocre QB, non existent OL, and bad coaching to the SEC championship and won B+ overall but without a shadow of a doubt Kirby’s greatest coaching job

[@lyndalamb3221]

When SEC Shorts did their 2024 report card and gave GA an A, I disagreed. I thought then it should be B+ ,only because they won the SEC.

[@Phoenix_Martin345]

I think they had a good year. If they had a healthy qb I would’ve love to see the ND vs Ga redo.

[@Gimpo925]

I am a huge UGA lover and watch your show every week when its football time. I would give UGA a B- this season. We did a ton with what we had, but I think we made mistakes everywhere. We most definitely were not a vintage UGA team this season and Texas is still overrated. After watching your video you sold me on the B+, so I raise my grade to your level. They did make so many mistakes and were still able to beat Texas twice to get the SEC champ and showed us what next years QB will look like.

[@earthdrawn]

What “vintage”? 1980? Obviously not. 2002? Maybe. 2012? Yeah, probably right about there… This was an off-year based on the expectations that Kirby’s program has given us, but make no mistake, even given the shortcomings, this team is comparable to the very best teams that Richt fielded, outclasses anything Goff or Donnan produced, and even the early 80’s glory years under Dooley weren’t significantly better. Vintage UGA? I’ll take Kirby and modernity any day of the week.

[@evenodd3339]

Can’t wait for the South Carolina grade

[@zachcoggins9018]

A at least. They were projected to barely get into a bowl game (if not missing out on one) and ended up in the best non-playoff bowl.

[@vincentsmith5130]

I'm in agreement with you

[@jackdirff9195]

Do one for Notre Dame

[@SoundFX09]

Might be putting my grade too high, but I'd put Kirby's 2024 Season with UGA at A-. Mainly because Georgia ended up *WINNING THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP* Despite all the Injuries and Offensive Woes, and Made the CFP Playoffs when people expected us to Finish One Game Short. Not going to deny that Georgia had *A TON* of Flaws. QB Play that left a lot to be desired, WR's Dropping *EVERYTHING*, RB Play that was problematic at best, and I'd argue that their Offensive Line was the Worst I've Seen in awhile. And You can guess where everyone's pointing the finger at in the Fanbase. Defensive Play was Pretty Good though, and I'd argue that our Defensive was the Shining Beacon of the Season. The Fact that Georgia even MADE and WON the SEC Championship is enough for me to put it at A-. However, B+ is a LOT more reasonable, especially given the expectations and where we exceeded in some, but fell short in Others, and ultimately got Boat-Raced Out of the Playoffs by a Fighting Irish Squad that lost to NIU. I still believe Georgia has the Capability to Win a National Championship again, but I believe a LOT of Deep Re-Examination of the Offensive Squad and Staff is going to be necessary for Georgia to Return to that Glory. GO DAWGS REGARDLESS!

[@Randall_Marsh]

All the people blaming Bobo, have to blame CKS and the entire Offensive staff.

[@cdpridg3998]

We do..but bobo is the OC on nepotism..why he’s out

[@Phoenixrising4799]

Bobo presides over that unit though.

[@brad4687]

⁠@@Phoenixrising4799Kirby presides over him thou….

[@JonesDylan874]

I would say... A-. I mean, we won the SEC and proved our doubters wrong. Kirby Smart is just very good. I'm sure we can be good next year.

[@billdent7449]

Georgia, and Kirby Smart, might be better than a B+. Probably an A-. Constant issues at most all positions, injuries, and Skyrocket expectations. The coaching staff coach their ass off and developed some pretty good talent in the process. Bring on 2026.😊

[@HOTLANTAMAN]

Hi. Lifelong Georgia fan here. Kirby gets an A+. Program gets an F. If you dont make a natty the season's a failure

[@cdpridg3998]

They tried to rig it for Texas. Texas suppose to be the big fish on the big pond instantaneously.

[@boboman-98]

Kirby’s coaching as a whole on the season was nothing short of impressive, but a select few moments are a bit egregious and gives me uneasiness. First, trying to be aggressive at the end of the first half during the SEC championship which led to the Beck injury. One of Carson Beck’s best abilities is identifying pressure and adjusting the line of scrimmage. Gunnar absolutely stepped up, but against ND many of the costly sack I do think could’ve been mitigated if he was able to make better pre-snap adjustments for his O-Line Second, trying to be aggressive to in the Sugar Bowl leading to the fumble and ensuing TD. UGA’s defense against ND (not special teams) was largely elite the whole night, just on that play it put the team in the back foot for the first and only point of the game seemingly. If not for those two elements, I do think UGA had a realistic shot to challenge Ohio State, but halfway through the season I thought it would be chalked so to leave winning the SEC is a commendable effort. Onto 2025

[@Ghost_618nation]

Kirby lost his dad literally after the sugar bowl and he wasn’t even focused on that dumb game

[@MarkyMark1221]

SEC schedule makers need to be studied.

[@GoatedAtNFS]

it’s to prop up texas for the first two years

[@CarterMcCallum]

Anyone who wins the SEC Championship gets an A. Go Dawgs!

[@truthhurts95]

B+? This was easily Kirby’s best coaching job and it’s not close and this notion that a team is “expected” to win a natty is ridiculous even in Nick sabans best years he didn’t win it every year in fact he went back to back once Alabama with Nick saban is the closest thing we’ve ever had to that expectation even then it was unrealistic to “expect” a national title we hear after every season since 21 how many players Georgia lost then y’all turn around and use words like expect when it comes to Georgia winning a national title

[@CenturionTundra]

Well now we lost our weakest link, Beck can go drag down Miami now

[@litedawg]

The offensive line was our weakest link by far

[@zachcoggins9018]

First minute in, that didn’t happen. It was 6-0 going into half, with the offense showing signs of what’s to come (slow starts). I’d give it a C+ for my Dawgs.

[@antjohnson5464]

I give them a C

[@schwartzyinthebuildin8460]

We will not win a big game (playoff wise) with Mike bobo as our OC

[@cdpridg3998]

You sure want. He’s not going anywhere..he’s more important than anything in Athens and program itself

[@schwartzyinthebuildin8460]

@ which means we will not be as successful as we should be🤷🏼‍♂️ the two years he was not our OC we won back 2 back

[@Osei_Bean_8ryant]

Do you really look at this team and say that bobo is really problem #1?

[@schwartzyinthebuildin8460]

@ it’s not talent…look at Arian smith, cooking in senior bowl stuff…really makes you wonder where that’s been, bobos game plan is the worlds most predictable game plan and unfortunately as we’ve seen we cannot win the big game if he’s the caller. We had a drop problem this year yeah, but you solve that by altering the game plan…it became more apparent because Mike Bono’s game plan never changed applying pressure to the third and long or 2nd and long where we throw it deep to guys and they drop it

[@Osei_Bean_8ryant]

@schwartzyinthebuildin8460 respectfully you sound crazy. there is no game plan that can make the recievers catch the ball or the line block better. And we still put up points consistently. If you think he's a problem, that's a different convo. But he's definitely not problem #1.

[@Randall_Marsh]

2:49 3rd straight season in college football playoff? UGA played FSU in the Orange bowl on New Year’s Eve 2023.

[@Dawgnation4o]

team will continue to fail until their coordinator is fired

[@MB-ff9mk]

Josh again it’s like ur smelling farts and then doing ur podcast. Kirby did exactly what Saban did last year. AND WON THE SEC!!! That’s why Kirby is the ONLY elite coach in football right now!!! Plz let Day switch with Kirby and I know without a doubt this osu team would go as one the the greatest even though they did pay for it and Georgia well Georgia may not have beat Tech. Kirby is in that Saban air. And more importantly ROLL TIDE!!!

[@chrisgray2824]

Georgia had a great run.....the run is over

[@Osei_Bean_8ryant]

No one is gonna have a real "run" in this era of cfb. Uga will still be amongst the top schools every year

[@Ghost_618nation]

It’s far from over clown it just was a bad year idiot

[@NickEvans-i2x]

Ohio the home of champions

[@Heiko2852]

F-

[@trevorjones6289]

Should have lost to GT

[@shawnbrooks5293]

But they didn't

[@brad4687]

“Should” doesn’t go in the record books

[@litedawg]

GT should have won