Kirby Smart never came right out and said last season was a rebuilding year, but what he did cite, more than once, was more than half the roster was first- and second-year players.

Indeed, the Bulldogs were also losing 13 NFL draft picks, four others who signed as free agents, and had a first-year starting quarterback.

Those sorts of numbers and the newness under center certainly quality as a rebuild, or as the Georgia football fans like to say, a “reload.”

But now the vast majority of those first- and second-year players — the ones Smart cared enough to pay to keep — are returning to what’s become one of the most experienced teams in the SEC.

Seven-time national championship coach Nick Saban has taken note, and that’s why he puts Georgia alongside star-studded Texas at the top of the league this season.

“I think they are the two teams that, at least looking on paper, probably have the best chance to be successful and maybe go a long way in the playoff,” Saban told Pat MaAfee on ESPN.

“I think there are other teams that definitely can challenge them, including Alabama, who has a lot of unknowns and may be able to sneak up on people this year under the radar.”

Saban has been paid an annual salary of $500,000 by Alabama to serve in an advisory role after retiring as the Tide’s head coach in January 2024.

Saban, in August of 2022 had signed an $11.7 million extension that ran through February of 2030, leading man to believe he was not as close to retirement as other coaches had suggested when recruiting against the Tide.

A total of 10 Alabama players entered the NCAA transfer portal during the special 30-day window triggered by Saba’s retirement, among them such stars as Caleb Downs (Ohio State), current Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin, receiver Isaiah Bond (Texas) and cornerback Trey Amos (Ole Miss).

Saban knows better than anyone how much losing those core players who were on the verge of aging up hurt Kalen DeBoer’s chances for success as Alabama’s head coach.

Conversely, Saban sees how Smart’s reinvestment in retaining players — rather than leaning on transfer portal players or impact freshman — figures to help the Bulldogs this season.

“I like Georgia’s team,” Saban said, “and what I’ve noticed about this new era of college football with lots of transfers and changing rosters, the people that can keep their players and they have an aging team, like Georgia had a very young team last year, but they’re going to be an older team this year, and I think Texas is going to be older and more mature as a team this year so I think that gives you a huge advantage.”

Saban pointed out how Indiana, led by another of his former assistant coaches, Curt Cignetti (at Alabama 2007-2010), benefitted from having older players en route to winning the CFP Championship Game.

“Indiana last year was a very mature team when It comes to age, experience of players,” Saban said. “That matters.

When you’ve got 23 and 24 year old guys playing it’s a lot different than 18 and 19.”

ESPN metrics note Notre Dame as the program with the most retiring production (72%), while Texas ranks sixth (68%) decimal points ahead of Georgia (also 68%).

The Longhorns, like the Bulldogs, have a returning starting quarterback in Arch Manning.

Irish quarterback CJ Carr is the current Heisman Trophy favorite per the FanDuel website (+700), followed by Manning (+850), Miami transfer (via Duke) QB Darian Mensah (+950), Sayin (+1200) and Oregon QB Dante Moore (+1200), Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (+1500) and TCU QB Josh Hoover (+1500) and Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss at (+1500) followed by Gunner Stockton (+2200).