Nick Saban didn’t need long to stir the pot in Knoxville.
With College GameDay in town for Tennessee’s matchup against No. 1 Texas, the former Alabama coach took a familiar route: reminding Volunteers fans exactly how lopsided the Third Saturday in October looked during his run in Tuscaloosa.
When asked which “UT” he was backing between Tennessee and Texas, Saban first said Tennessee. The crowd responded. Then he delivered the punchline.
"Because we smoked 16 of 17 cigars when we played you all," Saban said.
"WE SMOKED 16 OF 17 CIGARS WHEN WE PLAYED YOU ALL."
Coach Saban set the crowd up 😂 pic.twitter.com/mKP9MDvuxH
- College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 26, 2026
The reaction was immediate. Tennessee fans answered with chants of "F*** Nick Saban" as the GameDay set turned into a reunion with old wounds. Saban’s reply was just as sharp: "you guys can't take a joke!"
The joke landed because the numbers are real. Saban went 16-1 against Tennessee at Alabama, including a 15-game winning streak from 2007 through 2021, the longest run in the rivalry’s history. The lone loss in Knoxville came with plenty of controversy attached.
He also took one more swipe at the end of the show, picking Texas to beat Tennessee and bringing up his last visit to Neyland Stadium, when the goalpost ended up in the river. That was a nod to the 2022 game, when Tennessee snapped the 15-game skid, tore down the goalposts and carried one to the river.
Never change, coach.
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South Carolina has become a familiar test, and that familiarity tends to sharpen the focus on Alabamas defensive execution and overall urgency. The buildup also comes with the usual supporting cast of key players and betting lines, but the bigger issue is whether the Tide can avoid the kind of slow start that can turn a supposedly manageable SEC game into a longer afternoon than expected. [Read more 🡒]