Georgia fans have every reason to celebrate.
The Bulldogs are back at No. 1 in the country after beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa, and there's nothing wrong with enjoying that accomplishment. Georgia has earned its place atop the rankings, and fans should absolutely take a moment to appreciate it.
Kirby Smart, on the other hand, should be doing the exact opposite.
Smart has spent years telling his players not to listen to the outside noise with his repeated mantra of "don't listen to them", and that message needs to be louder than ever now that the outside noise is telling them they're the best team in college football.
Because there's an uncomfortable truth about Georgia's new No. 1 ranking: The Bulldogs have earned it, but they haven't played like the best team in the country yet, and perhaps more importantly, they haven't come close to playing like the best version of themselves.
That's not an insult to Georgia. It's a recognition of how much better this team can still become.
Georgia's No. 1 ranking reflects its six-week body of work, not its level of play
After six games, Georgia is undefeated, having handily won the first five games and then a titanic 3-point win in Tuscaloosa in Week 6. Those are all great things.
But there's a vast difference between winning games and playing championship-caliber football. The Bulldogs disposed of the opponents they should have and found a way to win against their toughest opponents.
The argument might be, "Well, that's what championship teams do. They find a way to win". While true, it doesn't dismiss the fact that this particular Georgia team is capable of much more. This is a team that could convincingly beat anyone in their path, regardless of the obstacles placed in front of them.
Against Alabama, Georgia played a physical game and managed to win despite being down three running backs and two wide receivers. But there were problems, mental lapses, and unforced errors that could have cost Georgia the game. There needs to be more separation from opponents, even when the deck is stacked against them.
After six weeks, Georgia has assembled the best resumé in the country, but they still aren't playing their best football, or like they're the best team in the country.
Kirby Smart has even more reason to keep Georgia from believing the hype
The rankings are telling Georgia's players they're the best team in America. Kirby Smart needs to keep reminding them that they haven't played like it yet.
Georgia committed seven penalties against Alabama, the second most they've been flagged for since Week 1, and many of them were procedural fouls and mental errors. As the Bulldogs head into the second half of the season, those kinds of mistakes can become even more costly. The margin for error shrinks, and Kirby Smart knows that better than most.
Keeping his team humble will be key as the Bulldogs embark on arguably the most difficult part of their schedule, with Auburn, Florida, Ole Miss, and Missouri all coming up. If Georgia comes into any of those games feeling indestructible, it will likely backfire.
Smart excels in making the "don't believe your own headlines" narrative believable to his team. He'll show specific examples of what an opponent can do to counter what Georgia wants to do, and he'll build them up to the point that his team understands that any team in the SEC can be a potential landmine.
Georgia is now the target, just ask Ohio State and Texas
There is another reason Kirby Smart should be turning up the volume on his message about ignoring the rankings.
Georgia now has a target squarely on its chest.
Just ask Ohio State and Texas what comes with being ranked No. 1.
Both programs have already experienced the pressure of carrying that ranking this season, and neither held onto it. Texas, in particular, just learned how quickly a team can go from being celebrated as the best in college football to answering uncomfortable questions after a rivalry loss to Oklahoma.
That's the reality Georgia now faces. Every opponent on the Bulldogs' schedule gets an opportunity to make a statement by knocking off the nation's top-ranked team, and in the case of Auburn and Florida, one of its biggest rivals.
And the worst thing Georgia could do is assume that being ranked No. 1 means it's going to get everyone's best shot and waltz through to a win. The Bulldogs have already shown they can survive difficult games without playing their best football and without some of their best players. But that's not a formula they should be comfortable relying on every Saturday.
If anything, the new ranking should make Smart's job easier. He doesn't have to manufacture reasons for his players to stay hungry. All he has to do is remind them how quickly the No. 1 ranking can disappear.
Ohio State and Texas have already provided the cautionary tales. Georgia would be wise to pay attention.
The best version of Georgia is still out there, and Kirby Smart knows it.
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