Seeing Nick Saban have fun on fall Saturdays is still taking some getting used to
Remember the gruff Nick Saban who never enjoyed being in front of the media and rarely flashed a smile? Whatever happened to that guy?
Less than a year after he retired from coaching, Saban is seemingly carefree and showing more of his fun side than ever. From singing Wagon Wheel with Darius Rucker to cussing on live TV, we’re seeing the recently turned 73-year-old embrace a side of college football we didn’t know he was mentally capable of enjoying
The latest example occurred early on in Saturday morning’s edition of ESPN’s College GameDay in Happy Valley as Penn State’s mascot brought him a belated birthday present: A Nittany Lion costume.
By the time GameDay returned from commercial, Saban had the new outfit on and looked like a lifelong Penn State fan.
Saban dressed as the Penn State mascot Saturday as part of “College GameDay.”
Throughout the 2024 college football season, fans of the sport may have seen a different side to former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban on Saturday mornings as part of ESPN’s “College GameDay” than they might’ve in previous years.
During that span, have you ever seen Saban dress up as a mascot of a college football team, better yet, a program other than Alabama? Well, that is exactly what Saban did Saturday morning in State College, Pennsylvania when the former Alabama head coach donned an outfit to look like the Penn State Nittany Lions mascot.
In a segment Saturday morning on “College GameDay,” Penn State’s mascot delivered a birthday present to Saban, which happened to be an outfit to look like the Nittany Lion. Saban also put the outfit on while the crowd sang happy birthday, drawing the joy of the Penn State crowd.
The video of Saban dressed up as Penn State’s mascot on “College GameDay” can be found below:
Throughout his entire 17-year tenure as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program, Nick Saban only coached on his birthday of October 31 once during his time in Tuscaloosa.
That came during the 2020 season when Alabama hosted a SEC opponent in the Mississippi State Bulldogs, a game in which the Crimson Tide were also victorious by a final score of 41-0.
A game that pitted a No. 2 ranked, as well as undefeated, Alabama program against an unranked and struggling Mississippi State team at the time, the Crimson Tide simply dominated this matchup from the start, carrying a 27-0 advantage into halftime.
In the game, Alabama quarterback Mac Jones threw for nearly 300 yards and four touchdowns, with every score going to eventual Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith, who had 11 receptions for 203 yards. Najee Harris also had 21 carries for 119 yards, while the Alabama defense forced three turnovers in a game where the Crimson Tide owned a 499-200 advantage in total yardage.
With Saban’s birthday falling on October 31, Alabama simply did not play often that week, with a big reason as to why being a bye week prior to the LSU game, which is exactly what the Crimson Tide have this week.
That means that Saban retired from Alabama with a perfect 1-0 record on his birthday with the Crimson Tide.
Where will Nick Saban and College GameDay be this Saturday, Nov. 2? Here’s what to know.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” has announced where it will be for Week 10 of the 2024 college football season.
For the second straight week, the GameDay crew is staying in the Big Ten and will be on site in Happy Valley for the top-five matchup between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions. Kickoff for that game is 11 a.m. CT and can be seen on Fox.
Penn State (7-0) is undefeated and ranked No. 3 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. James Franklin’s Nittany Lions defeated the Wisconsin Badgers, 28-13, at Camp Randall last Saturday. Ohio State (6-1) is ranked No. 4 after a 21-17 win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
It’s the first time this season that the crew of Nick Saban, Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Lee Corso and Pat McAfee will be in State College. GameDay’s last visit to Penn State was in September 2021 when the Nittany Lions defeated the Auburn Tigers, 28-20.
For Saban, it’s his first known visit to Penn State since Alabama’s 27-11 victory at Beaver Stadium on Sept. 10, 2011. While at Michigan State from 1995-99, Saban went 2-3 against the Nittany Lions with both wins coming in East Lansing (1997 and 1999).
The Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2), ranked No. 14 in this week’s polls, are in the midst of the second of their two bye weeks in 2024 before returning to SEC play on Nov. 9 against the No. 16 LSU Tigers (6-2) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Kickoff for Alabama-LSU was announced earlier this week as a 6:30 p.m. CT start. The game will be televised on ABC. The Crimson Tide defeated Missouri, 34-0, last Saturday while LSU fell 38-23 to the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station.
With Alabama vs. LSU being a playoff elimination game in addition to an annual ratings bonanza, it seems a good bet that the GameDay crew’s next stop will be Baton Rouge for Tide-Tigers.
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Here’s where every former Nick Saban assistant ranks in our 2024 college football head coach rankings.
It’s a great time of year for college football. The biggest games of October are behind us and teams in the Power Four conferences are gearing up for the final stretch of the regular season in November before conference championship games land on the first week of December.
From there, it’s on to the 12-team College Football Playoff. Whether or not one of those teams are the Alabama Crimson Tide, there are going to be some former members of Nick Saban’s expansive coaching tree leading their own respective programs to the playoff.
After Week 9’s slate of games, we rank members of the Saban coaching tree who are head coaches at the FBS level based on how their teams have performed so far this season, along with salary information from the USA TODAY Sports College Football Head Coach Salaries Database.
Note that private schools are not required to release salaries, bonuses, etc. Here are the 14 coaches in order from the up-and-comers to the top of the list.
14. Jim McElwain (Central Michigan Chippewas)
Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Central Michigan: 32-33
2024 Record: 3-5
Week 9 Game: Miami OH 46, Central Michigan 7
2024 Salary: $1,048,493
Three of the Chippewas’ five losses this season have been by 21 or more points, including their 46-7 blowout loss to the RedHawks over the weekend. With the type of salary McElwain is being paid in Year Six at Central Michigan, it’s time the school reassesses.
13. Mike Locksley (Maryland Terrapins)
Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Maryland: 33-37
2024 Record: 4-4
Week 9 Game: Minnesota 48, Maryland 23
2024 Salary: $5.8 million
While Maryland is a tough place to win, especially in a crowded, top-heavy Big Ten, the results just aren’t there for Locksley in Year Six in College Park. The Terps dropped their third game in the last four over the weekend and sit at 4-4. With games against the Oregon Ducks, Iowa Hawkeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions still on the schedule, getting to a fourth straight bowl game is far from a given.
12. Billy Napier (Florida Gators)
Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Florida: 14-17
2024 Record: 4-3
Week 9 Game: Bye
2024 Salary: $7.3 million
The Gators have won three of their last four games and have climbed up USA TODAY Sports’ re-ranking of all 134 FBS teams (they’re currently No. 44). But unless Florida can finish strong, which would include pulling massive upsets against either Georgia or Texas, then LSU and Ole Miss, it’s likely too late for Napier to save his job. A better bet is the Gators drop all four before their annual rivalry game with Florida State.
11. Major Applewhite (South Alabama Jaguars)
Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Overall/Current Record at South Alabama: 4-4
Week 9 Game: South Alabama 46, UL Monroe 17
2024 Salary: $825,000
South Alabama is in a position to fight for a Sun Belt title in Applewhite’s first season. The Jags are 3-1 in conference play after handing ULM its first Sun conference loss of the year. South Alabama has big games against Georgia Southern and Louisiana on its November slate, two programs that are also vying for a chance at the conference sweepstakes.
10. Butch Jones (Arkansas State Red Wolves)
Mickey Welsh / USA TODAY NETWORK
Overall Record at Arkansas State: 16-29
2024 Record: 5-3
Week 9 Game: Arkansas State 34, Troy 31
2024 Salary: $825,000
Year 4 at Arkansas State could be a turning point for Jones, whose team improved to 5-3 after its third win in the last four games. With a bye this week, the Red Wolves have a huge game in Sun Belt play against Louisiana on Nov. 9. A win in Lafayette would give Arkansas State a big boost toward playing for a conference championship.
9. Charles Huff (Marshall Thundering Herd)
Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Record at Marshall: 26-20
2024 Record: 4-3
Week 9 Game: Bye
2024 Salary: $755,500
Marshall’s 21-point fourth-quarter collapse against Georgia Southern on Oct. 12 is the only thing standing between the Herd and an unbeaten record in Sun Belt play.
8. Bill O’Brien (Boston College Eagles)
Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Overall/Current Record at Boston College: 4-4
Week 9 Game: Louisville 31, Boston College 27
2024 Salary: Private
The Eagles have dropped three straight since their 4-1 start. They have a bye this Saturday, then host longtime rival Syracuse on Nov. 9. With games against two Top 25 opponents in Pitt and SMU in November, the Eagles’ synch for a bowl berth may not be as tight as once expected.
7. Lance Taylor (Western Michigan Broncos)
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Record at Western Michigan: 9-11
2024 Record: 5-3
Week 9 Game: Western Michigan 52, Kent State 21
2024 Salary: $850,000
The Broncos improved to 4-0 in MAC play last Saturday with a win over a Kent State program that is widely regarded as the worst in the FBS ranks this year. In just his second season in Kalamazoo, Taylor has Western Michigan positioned to win a conference title. Following a bye this Saturday, the Broncos will look to run the table against Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, and Eastern Michigan in November.
6. Brent Key (Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets)
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Georgia Tech: 16-14
2024 Record: 5-4
Week 9 Game: Virginia Tech 21, Georgia Tech 6
2024 Salary: $2.9 million
Georgia Tech became bowl-eligible in Key’s second year in Atlanta in 2023, marking their first postseason berth since 2018. The Yellow Jackets are coming off back-to-back losses (to Notre Dame and Virginia Tech) but have a chance to play spoiler against Miami when the Hurricanes visit Bobby Dodd Stadium on Nov. 9. Tech also has a promising start on its 2025 recruiting class, ranking No. 17 nationally by 247Sports.
5. Lane Kiffin (Ole Miss Rebels)
Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Ole Miss: 40-17
2024 Record: 6-2
Week 9 Game: Ole Miss 26, Oklahoma 14
2024 Salary: $9 million
Kiffin hasn’t been able to win the big one yet, but the time he’s spent at a historically underwhelming SEC program has been worth what Ole Miss is paying him. The Rebels’ Week 9 win over Oklahoma wasn’t pretty, but the team got it done in the second half and kept their slim Playoff hopes alive. They face the Arkansas Razorbacks this week in Fayetteville before a must-win game in Oxford against Georgia on Nov. 9.
4. Mario Cristobal (Miami Hurricanes)
Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Miami: 20-13
2024 Record: 8-0
Week 9 Game: Miami 36, Florida State 14
2024 Salary: $7.7 million
Is “The U” really back? Or will “Little ol’ Clemson ” be the cream of the ACC’s crop once the dust settles in Charlotte on Dec. 7? For now, Cristobal has the ‘Canes at 8-0 after some close calls (literally) against both Virginia Tech and Cal. Beyond what Miami does against Clemson or in the 12-team Playoff (if they get there), I’m curious to see whether the Hurricanes can become the new standard in the ACC — or if this is simply a good team having a one-off year in a down conference similar to Florida State’s 2023 squad.
3. Curt Cignetti (Indiana Hoosiers)
Indiana Head Coach Curt Cignetti during practice at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Overall/Current Record at Indiana: 8-0
Week 9 Game: Indiana 31, Washington 17
2024 Salary: $4.25 million
Cignetti has the Hoosiers off to their best start in almost 60 years (1967). His program just hosted “College GameDay” in Week 9, and the Hoosiers have thrust themselves squarely into the College Football Playoff conversation. Indiana’s Nov. 23 trip to Columbus to face the Ohio State Buckeyes is shaping up to have a Game of the Year type feeling in the Big Ten.
2. Steve Sarkisian (Texas Longhorns)
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Overall Record at Texas: 32-15
2024 Record: 7-1
Week 9 Game: Texas 27, Vanderbilt 24
2024 Salary: $10.6 million
Vanderbilt was looking to add another top-ranked team to their hit list, three weeks after their upset win over Alabama. Instead, Texas bounced back from a double-digit loss to Georgia with a quality road win against a Top 25 opponent, shaking off an early interception by Quinn Ewers and some other sloppy play (10 penalties and four sacks allowed).
1. Kirby Smart (Georgia Bulldogs)
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Overall Record at Georgia: 100-17
2024 Record: 6-1
Week 9 Game: Bye
2024 Salary: $13,282,580
Smart tops our rankings entering November based on the total body of work this season. The Bulldogs have bounced back strong after their 41-34 loss to Alabama on Sept. 28. Georgia’s 30-15 victory over Texas on Oct. 19 in Austin sent a message that the road to Atlanta still runs through Athens.
Saban has picked his former team four times so far this season.
Throughout the 2024 college football season so far, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has been one of the most enjoyable parts weekly as part of ESPN’s Saturday morning show, “College GameDay.”
Now off the sidelines for the Crimson Tide, Saban has taken to the “College GameDay” desk weekly this season, giving his picks and analysis along the way for college football fans to enjoy.
Fans have also searched for Saban’s thoughts when it comes to his former team, with the long-time Alabama coach commenting on the Crimson Tide often, while also even making his pick for some of their games.
Taking a look at the latter of those two, what is Saban’s current record when picking the Crimson Tide so far this season?
In all, Saban and “College GameDay” have picked four Alabama games so far this season, with the former head coach going with the Crimson Tide to win each.
Alabama at Wisconsin (9/14) – Alabama
Alabama vs. Georgia (9/28) – Alabama
Alabama at Tennessee (10/19) – Alabama
Alabama vs. Missouri (10/26) – Alabama
Over those four games, Saban currently holds a 3-1 record when picking the Crimson Tide, with the lone loss for Alabama coming against Tennessee.
With another pick likely to come next Saturday when Alabama travels to LSU, will Saban pick the Crimson Tide once again?
Saban comments on the parity of the SEC this season.
If you have watched any college football this season, then one thing that you have likely realized is that the SEC seems to be a bit tougher top-to-bottom than you might’ve remembered in years past.
Well, former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban commented on this recently when asked a question on the parity of playing in the SEC this season as part of ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” this past Friday afternoon, saying:
“I think there’s more parity in the SEC because I think players want to come to the SEC,” Saban said. “So, the system that we have now allows more players with more experience and proven quality to be able to come to the SEC. In other words, it doesn’t have to just be recruiting.”
Saban also gave his thoughts on how this coming down to player acquisition, in particular the differences between recruiting high school players and the transfer portal, adding:
“Now you take a team like Ole Miss, and I think Lane’s done a great job there so I’m not being critical in this, but he’s actually used the portal to his benefit to be able to have a top-notch team. Other teams use recruiting like Georgia, they are still going to recruit. Alabama’s going to recruit. They’re going to use the portal some, but not as much, so that helps some of the teams that weren’t quite as good get better quickly so that they can compete with those top-level teams. I think the Big Ten, you’re going to see some of that, but I think those two conferences, because of the strength both those conferences have, they’re going to have a little bit of an advantage in this new day and age that we’re living in.”
Altogether, it certainly appears so far that the SEC is a more talented conference overall this season, especially at the top of the league. Is what Saban said a big reason as to why?
Phillies star Kyle Schwarber was ESPN College GameDay’s guest picker this week.
Penn State is stepping into one of the tougher environments in the Big Ten this weekend with hopes of keeping its undefeated record intact. Penn State is favored in its primetime matchup at Wisconsin, and the staff of Nittany Lions Wire comes into the week feeling very good about Penn State’s chances. It seems we were not alone in that sentiment this week, as the crew of ESPN’s College GameDay was on the same wavelength with its predictions.
Desmond Howard opened up the weekly picks by picking Penn State on the road. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban called Penn State one of the most complete teams in the country before picking the Nittany Lions. Saban’s pick was followed by another Penn State pick from Pat McAfee, who suggested there are major Gameday implications on the line with this one (Penn State hosts Ohio State next week in a potential top-5 showdown and a potential likely destination for ESPN’s traveling pregame show).
Kyle Schwarber is ESPN College GameDay guest picker
Lucas Boland-Imagn Images
Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwareber was this week’s celebruary guest picker. Schwarber is an Indiana alum and came to the GameDay desk in a Hoosiers football uniform and an Indiana baseball helmet. The Phillies star also picked Penn State.
Lee Corso picked Penn State but noted he thought Penn State will be looking ahead a little bit to next week’s home game against the Buckeyes. That led to Corso giving his signature “closer than the experts pick” prediction although he did pick the Nittany Lions.
Kirk Herbstreit made it a clean sweep for Penn State when he wrapped up the predictions for this week’s contest by siding with Penn State.
Who does Nick Saban predict to win Alabama-Missouri and other Top 25 games in Week 9?
Nick Saban and the full College GameDay crew believe the Alabama Crimson Tide will win their Week 9 SEC matchup against the Missouri Tigers Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Saban and the GameDay crew made their predictions for Alabama-Missouri and other Top 25 games live from Bloomington, Ind., where the No. 13 Indiana Hoosiers (7-0) are hosting the Washington Huskies in a Big Ten showdown.
During his prediction, Saban also offered a word of encouragement for Kalen DeBoer.
“I think Alabama’s bouncing back. I think Kalen has taken the right approach with the TNT, ‘Takes No Talent.’ Get all those things fixed that really are just discipline type things (and) that can make Alabama a really good team.”
Lee Corso and celebrity guest picker Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies agreed with Saban and favored Alabama to win, as did Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee.
Saban’s full Week 9 SEC, Top 25 college football picks
In other SEC action, Saban picked No. 7 LSU to win Saturday’s prime time showdown against No. 14 Texas A&M at Kyle Field, and No. 6 Texas to win at Vanderbilt.
In other Top 25 action, Saban picked No. 11 Notre Dame to defeat No. 24 Navy and No. 1 Oregon to beat No. 20 Illinois. Saban also picked No. 3 Penn State to get past Wisconsin.
As for Indiana vs. Washington, Saban said it was “hard to go against the spirit” of the fans in Bloomington before picking the Hoosiers.
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Tua Tagovailoa’s college coach is worried about and praying for the quarterback.
Tua Tagovailoa will make his return to the starting lineup Sunday, and many will be watching the Miami Dolphins quarterback with bated breath.
After another scary concussion for a player who already considered retirement because of his history of head injuries, there are plenty who are understandably worried that Tagovailoa will take another damaging hit. That includes former Alabama coach Nick Saban, who spent three years coaching Tagovailoa.
“I’m concerned. I want Tua to be safe and healthy and not have a football career that’s going to impact him down the road,” Saban said Friday on The Pat McAfee Show. “This is a medical decision, this not an organizational decision. People will look at him and say ‘Why are they letting him play?’ I think the doctors make that decision and it’s a medical decision.
“For him, it becomes personal then. ‘I really want to play. I’m a competitor. I want to play.’ So he has to make a decision — is the risk-reward from a medical point worth it to you? I think all those things are in play now. If he wants to play — and I’ve talked to him, I know he wants to play, I know what kind of competitor he is — then I’m happy for him that he’s having the opportunity to play. But I also pray for him that he doesn’t have any issues.”
Tagovailoa’s concerning injury history dates back to his days at Alabama where he suffered a concussion, as well as a broken hip and nose, from a hit in 2019. But it was the 2022 season when things boiled over with Tagovailoa suffering two diagnosed concussions — and possibly a third that went undiagnosed — that raised doubts about the passer’s future.
In his first press conference since suffering a concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa dismissed the idea of walking away from football.
“This is what I love to do. This is what makes me happy, and I’m gonna do it. That’s it,” Tagovailoa said.
Tagovailoa is set to return to the starting lineup Sunday in a home game against the Arizona Cardinals.
