Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban experienced the Rose Bowl in Pasadena twice in his 17 seasons in Tuscaloosa.
The first time came early in the Saban dynasty at Alabama. The Crimson Tide defeated Texas, 37-21, in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 7, 2010. Saban coached his last game at the historic venue on New Year’s Day 2024 when Alabama fell, 27-20, in overtime to the eventual national champion Michigan Wolverines.
Saban will get to experience Pasadena from his customary seat on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” GameDay announced it would attend the College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Oregon Ducks on New Year’s Day.
Kickoff for Ohio State (11-2) and Oregon (13-0) is 4 p.m. CT on ESPN. GameDay will begin broadcasting live at 9 a.m.
For Saban, it’s the fifth time this season he will be at an Ohio State game. He may not get much of a warm reception from Buckeye fans in Pasadena after sharing some strong words recently on “College GameDay” and again last Friday on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
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Other playoff quarterfinal matchups are No. 5 seed Penn State vs. No. 8 Boise State at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve (6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN).
On New Year’s Day, No. 4 Texas faces No. 10 Arizona State in the Peach Bowl (noon CT, ESPN) before No. 2 Georgia plays No. 3 Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl (7:45 p.m. CT, ESPN).
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