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How much pressure is mounted on Kirby Smart to beat Alabama in 2019?

With the exception of Dabo Swinney of Clemson, not a lot of head coaches have obtained consistent success against Nick Saban and Alabama.

As the six-time national champion makes his move to knock off Swinney next season, one of his former students looks to finally beat him.

Kirby Smart sat under Saban for nine years in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

From 2007 to 2015, he served as assistant head coach, defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator – helping the Crimson Tide to four Southeastern Conference championships, four national championships and numerous top-ranked signing classes.

Despite his familiarity with the greatest college football coach of all-time, Smart came up short twice against Saban – including the College Football Playoff title game for the 2017 season, where he suffered a 26-23 loss in overtime.