University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Conor Dillon/UGAAA
Kirby Smart Named Finalist For Dodd Trophy
December 17, 2025 | Football
ATHENS-----University of Georgia's Kirby Smart has been named one of five finalists for the
2025 Dodd Trophy, officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. announced Wednesday.
Now in his 10th season at the helm, Smart and the Bulldogs enter the College Football Playoff (CFP) as the number three seed with a 12-1 mark. Georgia has won back-to-back Southeastern Conference titles and four total under Smart. He is the only coach in the CFP era to win two straight national titles, and his 117 wins is the most in NCAA FBS history in the modern era for a coach in his first 10 seasons.
Along with Smart, the finalists for the Dodd Trophy presented by PNC Bank, include Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Ryan Day (Ohio State), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt) and Joey McGuire (Texas Tech).
This marks Smart's third selection as a finalist (2018, 2022), while Cignetti, Day, Lea and McGuire are all making their first appearance on the finalist list. The winner will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year's CFP Semifinal at Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and presented by PNC Bank, The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
Finalists were selected by a panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member, taking into consideration each program's graduation rate, Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, on-field success thus far for the 2025 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR).
Georgia earned a first round bye in this year's CFP as a top four seed. The Bulldogs will play in the CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST against either No. 6 Ole Miss or No. 20 Tulane. The Rebels (11-1) play host to the Green Wave (11-2) in first-round CFP action on Dec. 20 at 3:30 EST.
2025 Dodd Trophy, officials from the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc. announced Wednesday.
Now in his 10th season at the helm, Smart and the Bulldogs enter the College Football Playoff (CFP) as the number three seed with a 12-1 mark. Georgia has won back-to-back Southeastern Conference titles and four total under Smart. He is the only coach in the CFP era to win two straight national titles, and his 117 wins is the most in NCAA FBS history in the modern era for a coach in his first 10 seasons.
Along with Smart, the finalists for the Dodd Trophy presented by PNC Bank, include Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Ryan Day (Ohio State), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt) and Joey McGuire (Texas Tech).
This marks Smart's third selection as a finalist (2018, 2022), while Cignetti, Day, Lea and McGuire are all making their first appearance on the finalist list. The winner will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year's CFP Semifinal at Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Managed by Peach Bowl, Inc. and presented by PNC Bank, The Dodd Trophy, college football's most coveted national coaching award, celebrates the head coach of a team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity – the three pillars of legendary coach Bobby Dodd's coaching philosophy. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary this season, the award was established to honor the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1A) head football coach whose program represents the highest ideals on and off the field.
Finalists were selected by a panel consisting of all previous winners, national media, a member of the Dodd family and a College Football Hall of Fame member, taking into consideration each program's graduation rate, Graduation Success Rate (GSR), commitment to service and charity in the community, on-field success thus far for the 2025 season and Academic Progress Rate (APR).
Georgia earned a first round bye in this year's CFP as a top four seed. The Bulldogs will play in the CFP quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. EST against either No. 6 Ole Miss or No. 20 Tulane. The Rebels (11-1) play host to the Green Wave (11-2) in first-round CFP action on Dec. 20 at 3:30 EST.
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