ATHENS — Georgia has passed Alabama football on the field with back-to-back national titles, but as SEC Network star Peter Burns explained, Kirby Smart is still fighting to get out of Nick Saban’s shadow.

And that is actually a very good thing that Smart thrives on, to the extent he is one of the four legendary coaches on Burns’ SEC Coaches’ Mount Rushmore.

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“On the SEC Mount Rushmore, I don’t know how, unless this thing falls apart to 7-5, I don’t know how you don’t have Kirby already on there just because he’s won back-to-back national titles,” Burns said.

“Nick Saban is clearly going to be on that list, Bear Bryant is going to be on that list …. I’m not sure how you don’t go Steve Spurrier as being that Number Four.”

But as Burns suggests, many see Smart as chasing Saban’s legend.

“I think he’s still in the shadow of Nick Saban; as long as Nick Saban is coaching in the SEC, everything is going to be looked at and compared to the greatest coach in the history of college football, better than Bear Bryant, better than anybody, he is the GOAT,” Burns said of the Alabama head coach and seven-time national champ.

“I think Kirby’s always battling that, but I think Kirby needs that, and I think Kirby wants that. You always want to go against your mentor and you always want to beat him while he’s out there.”

SEC Network star Peter Burns, who hosts programs such as SEC Now and SEC This Morning along with anchoring College Football Live, gave a blazing take measuring Kirby Smart up against Nick Saban entering the 2023 season. (ESPN Court/Dawgnation)

It’s just one more chip on the shoulder for Smart, who is always looking — and perhaps sometimes inventing — causes to seek respect.

“Like the last two years,” Burns said of Smart’s chip-on-the-shoulder mentality. “Real or fake, it doesn’t matter. (Michael) Jordan had a lot of fake chip on the shoulder and it led to one of the greatest careers in the history of sports.

“For Kirby I don’t think it matters (as far as the) adulation. He gets paid well. Nobody has it better than Kirby Smart right now. Back to back nattys, you have a chance to do something no one has done in a half a century (three straight titles), and you’re doing it with your best friends.

“(Mike) Bobo is with the team, and you’ve got Will Muschamp here. You’re the king of everything at your alma mater. So to me, life is good for Kirby Smart.”

Burns, it’s worth noting, predicted Georgia’s past two national championships even as many others had projected Alabama to stay on top of the sport.