Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart has been named to the 2026 Dodd Trophy Watch List, the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and Peach Bowl, Inc., announced Thursday.
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.”
In his ten seasons as head coach of the Bulldogs, Kirby Smart has an overall record of 117-21 and two College Football National Championship victories.
“For more than five decades, The Dodd Trophy has established itself as the most coveted head coaching award in college football because it represents more than just wins on the field,” said Chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation Jim Terry. “Equally as important, we also focus on a coach’s impact on developing student-athletes in the classroom and within their communities. As a result, consideration is limited to coaches who have set a standard of academic excellence and have spent at least two seasons leading their current programs, allowing them time to build a culture of success on and off the field.”
2026 Dodd Trophy Watch List
| Coach | School | Conference |
| Bret Bielema | Illinois | Big Ten |
| Jeff Brohm | Louisville | ACC |
| Curt Cignetti | Indiana | Big Ten |
| Mario Cristobal | Miami (FL) | ACC |
| Spencer Danielson | Boise State | Pac-12 |
| Ryan Day | Ohio State | Big Ten |
| Kalen DeBoer | Alabama | SEC |
| Sonny Dykes | TCU | Big 12 |
| Mike Elko | Texas A&M | SEC |
| Kirk Ferentz | Iowa | Big Ten |
| Jedd Fisch | Washington | Big Ten |
| Marcus Freeman | Notre Dame | Independent |
| Willie Fritz | Houston | Big 12 |
| Josh Heupel | Tennessee | SEC |
| Brent Key | Georgia Tech | ACC |
| Dan Lanning | Oregon | Big Ten |
| Lincoln Riley | USC | Big Ten |
| Steve Sarkisian | Texas | SEC |
| Kirby Smart | Georgia | SEC |
| Brent Venables | Oklahoma | SEC |
“The Dodd Trophy has long recognized the qualities that define exceptional leadership in college football through its three guiding pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity,” said Peach Bowl, Inc. President and CEO David Epps. “Those three principles are at the heart of this award, and we look forward to following this outstanding group of coaches as they compete and lead their programs throughout the upcoming season.”
A midseason watch list will be revealed this fall, which could either narrow or expand the field of candidates.
The Georgia Bulldogs are scheduled to open the 2026 season on Saturday, September 5 against the Tennessee State Tigers at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga. The game will kickoff at 3:00pm ET and will be a streaming-only event on SEC Network+.