The Texas versus Georgia matchup on Saturday will mean more than just a top-five matchup. For the two head coaches, it will be a reunion between close friends.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian both spent part of their careers under the leadership of legendary former Alabama head coach Nick Saban. Though their times in Tuscaloosa didn’t coincide, Saban’s lessons remain apparent in both playing styles.

“Well, we have things in common,” Smart said in a Sports Illustrated interview. “You know, both worked for Nick (Saban) and had a mutual friendship there, had a mutual friendship through Lane (Kiffin) … But he’s just a bright mind, he’s fun to be around, competitor. We have a lot in common in terms of that and I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve got to spend around him.”

Smart started his career as a player for the Georgia Bulldogs and returned to Athens just a year after wrapping up his collegiate career. Though Smart joined the Indianapolis Colts for preseason, he was cut from the team ahead of regular season kick-off. That same year, 1999, Smart joined the Dawgs as an administrative assistant.

Smart moved around some programs like LSU and Florida State before heading back to Georgia in 2005 as the running back coordinator. At the time, Smart only spent a year with the team before moving to the NFL as the Miami Dolphins’ safeties coach.

Georgia wouldn’t be Smart’s home for another eight years. From 2007 to 2015, Smart coached under Saban as the defensive coordinator at Alabama. Texas’ Sarkisian held an analyst position in 2016, just after Smart left for the head coaching position at his alma mater.

In his time leading the Bulldogs, Smart won two consecutive national championships. Following a contract extension, Smart became the highest-paid coach in college football.

Georgia started the year at the top of the AP Poll — now, it’s Texas at No. 1. Sarkisian is looking to do what his fellow Saban product did in 2021 and 2022: win it all.

Despite their off-field friendship, it’s safe to say the high stakes of Saturday’s game will come first. And for Smart, this Longhorn team has what it takes to be a national champion.

“Well, I think when you look for a team, you look for weakness,” Smart said in a Sports Illustrated interview. “You know, you look for areas that you can maybe take advantage of. And when you look across the board to the kicking game, the passing game, the run game, the fundamentally sound, complementary football, force turnovers, don’t turn the ball over. The things that you can eliminate for beating yourself, they do a great job of all that, and that’s why they’re undefeated. That’s why they were in the playoff last year and that’s why they’re ranked No. 1 right now in the country.”