Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has been named a finalist for the 2025 Dodd Trophy, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl have announced.
The Dodd Trophy is awarded to 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.”
Joining Kirby Smart as finalists are Curt Cignetti (Indiana), Ryan Day (Ohio State), Clark Lea (Vanderbilt), and Joey McGuire (Texas Tech).
Kirby Smart has guided the third-ranked Georgia Bulldogs (12-1) to an 11-1 regular-season and victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2025 SEC Championship Game. This follows Georgia’s SEC Championship win last season.
“Even as our sport evolves, Coach Dodd’s three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity continue to stand the test of time,” said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. “Each of these five finalists have adapted to recent changes in college football, but have still built a foundation based on these three guiding principles. As a result, they’ve inherently been able to successfully lead their respective programs, both on and off the field.”
Smart was also a finalist for the Dodd Trophy in 2017, 2018, and 2022.
“In what has been another remarkable college football season, these five coaches stood out among the rest,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. CEO and president. “This year’s finalists have succeeded at the highest level with their student-athletes on the football field, in the classroom and throughout their communities. We’re honored to recognize all that they have accomplished this season and congratulate them for personifying everything this award represents. Maybe we’ll even have the opportunity to host a couple of these finalists down the road in our College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.”
The winner of the 2025 Dodd Trophy presented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year’s College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Third-ranked Georgia is next scheduled to play in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, Thursday, Jan. 1 2026 (Buy Tickets). The Bulldogs will face the winner of the first round game between the No. 11 Tulane Green Wave and No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels.