As will surely take some getting used to for college football fans, [autotag]Nick Saban[/autotag] has switched seats this year at the SEC Media Days in Dallas.
The former Alabama and LSU coach retired following the 2023 season, and now, he has taken on a media role. Saban has been interviewing SEC coaches all week in Dallas, and when discussing the Tigers, he made some comments that could raise some LSU fans’ eyebrows.
Saban said he sees the Tigers as a sleeper team entering 2024. He spoke highly of quarterback [autotag]Garrett Nussmeier[/autotag] and the receiving corps while also stating his belief that the defense is improving. Despite the heavy losses this offseason, he thinks the 2024 team could be the most complete under Kelly.
“I think that people sort of look at LSU having a first-round draft pick quarterback, two first-round wide receivers, they see these significant impact players leave the program,” Saban said, per On3. “But what I see at LSU is still a very good, talented receiver corps, I see a young quarterback who has tremendous potential and I see the defense getting better.
“So I think the squad, overall, is probably more balanced and a better squad than they had a year ago even though they don’t have those three significant players. So I think they’re still going to have a much better team than people may give them credit for.”
After entering 2023 as a top-five team, prognosticators are more skeptical this time around with several preseason rankings having LSU outside the top 15.
But if there’s one person who knows what it takes to succeed in the SEC, it’s Saban, and he thinks Brian Kelly’s group is set for a big Year 3.
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