Nick Saban may have traded the headset for a microphone, but make no mistake - the legendary coach still knows a thing or two about what it takes to win big games. Now serving as a college football analyst for ESPN, Saban was back in the spotlight Saturday morning on the College GameDay set, and naturally, the conversation turned to the team he built into a dynasty: the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Less than 24 hours earlier, Alabama pulled off a gutsy comeback win over Oklahoma in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Down 17-0 on the road in Norman, the Tide didn’t flinch. They stormed back with 34 unanswered points, ultimately walking away with a 34-24 victory that punched their ticket to the quarterfinals and a New Year’s Day showdown with No. 1 seed Indiana at the Rose Bowl.
Saban, who led Alabama to six national titles over 17 seasons, couldn’t hide his pride in the team’s resilience.
“I said (Alabama) had to have the heart of a lion to sustain in that atmosphere,” Saban said on GameDay. “But they drove through that smoke.
It was a great win for Alabama. I’m so proud of that team, because that atmosphere was something.”
And he wasn’t exaggerating. Memorial Stadium was rocking, the Sooners were rolling early, and the Tide looked rattled.
But what followed was vintage Alabama - poised, physical, and locked in. The kind of performance that reminded fans why the Crimson Tide are never out of a game, no matter the scoreboard.
Saban admitted it wasn’t easy picking Alabama as his winner during the Friday night GameDay broadcast - especially while sitting in the heart of Sooner country. But the team he once coached validated that call in a big way.
“Sometimes, I think the emotion of the game can work against you,” Saban said. “Oklahoma was really up here, but as the game went on, that emotion didn’t sustain.”
That’s where Alabama separated itself. While Oklahoma came out swinging, it was Alabama that managed the emotional rollercoaster better.
They didn’t panic when they fell behind early, and they didn’t get too high after big plays. They just kept grinding - a hallmark of Saban-era teams that clearly still lives on.
In the end, it wasn’t just a win. It was a statement - one that echoed across the playoff bracket.
Alabama went into a hostile environment, took the punches, and punched back harder. And for Saban, watching it unfold from the analyst chair must’ve felt a little like déjà vu.
He may no longer be on the sidelines, but his fingerprints are still all over this team - their mindset, their preparation, their ability to rise when the moment demands it.
The Tide are rolling into Pasadena with momentum, confidence, and a shot at another title. And if Friday night was any indication, they’re not just happy to be here - they’re coming for it all.