Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are gearing up to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in rivalry week. Save for the COVID season, these in-state rivals have played each other in every season since 1925.

Understandably, Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key is not a fan of the Bulldogs. Last summer, Key said there’s “nothing he hates more” than Georgia football. When asked about those comments, Smart took a different approach.

“I don’t think you get really emotional about things like that,” Smart explained. “I think you’re a better coach when you stay composed and you coach your players and you teach your players what it’s going to take to win the game.”

Since taking over at Georgia, Smart has never lost to the Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets have not defeated the Bulldogs since 2016 and have 41 all-time wins in the series compared to Georgia’s 71. In 2023, the Yellow Jackets kept it close, losing by single digits.

“It will be an emotional game, but I don’t get emotional about it,” Smart said.

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The Bulldogs already secured a spot in the SEC Championship Game, and a win in Week 14 would have the Bulldogs end the regular season at 10-2. The Yellow Jackets, meanwhile, enter Week 14 with a 7-4 record seeking to reach 8 wins for the first time since 2016.

This rivalry game will kick off from Sanford Stadium on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.