With College Gameday selecting the LSU-Alabama meeting for its week 11 destination, it means a return to Baton Rouge for Nick Saban.
Perhaps no man is more familiar with this rivalry than Saban, who coached at LSU from 2000-2004 before he built his dynasty at Alabama from 2007-2023. Saban led LSU to a national title in 2003 and added six more rings at Alabama.
He’ll be remembered for his time at Alabama, but Saban often speaks highly of his years in Baton Rouge.
Saban’s last public appearance in Baton Rouge was in 2022 — when Brian Kelly and Jayden Daniels upset Saban’s Crimson Tide squad.
Now that Saban is off the sideline, he’ll have a chance to appreciate LSU and Baton Rouge in a different way. I’d expect Gameday to lean into the storyline, playing with the energy from the crowd.
Saban’s 48 wins at LSU rank fifth in program history. His .750 win percentage ranks second, only behind Les Miles, among LSU coaches with two or more seasons.
LSU and Alabama each have open weeks in week 10, but the game is college football’s premier matchup in week 11.
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.