Even after stepping away from coaching, Nick Saban remains deeply loyal to the SEC.
The former Alabama and LSU coach recently praised his former conference while taking a jab at the Big Ten, right before the anticipated Game of the Year between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 4 Texas in Austin.
During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN, Saban remarked, “We’ve already got nine teams in the top 25,” while discussing Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor.
He added, “It’s not like the Big Ten who has three good teams at the top and then nothing.”
Saban’s remarks certainly set the stage for Saturday’s matchup, as fans of both conferences can argue their points about which one is superior.
Indeed, the SEC boasts a broader talent pool, as evidenced by having teams like No. 2 Georgia, No. 4 Texas, No. 8 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 11 Oklahoma, No. 12 Alabama, No. 18 Tennessee, and No. 23 Missouri all ranked in the Associated Press’ top 25.
The Big Ten, on the other hand, has six teams in the rankings, including No. 1 Ohio State, No. 5 Indiana, No. 6 Oregon, No. 14 USC, No. 16 Penn State, and No. 19 Washington.
When Saban refers to “three good teams,” it seems he considers USC, Penn State, and Washington are not genuine contenders for a national title.
However, Big Ten supporters could argue that while the conference may not have the depth of the SEC, it has triumphed in the last three national championships — with wins by Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana — ending the SEC’s four-year title run.
Interestingly, the SEC hasn’t had a team in the national title game during that period.
Both Ohio State and Texas aim for redemption following disappointing seasons last year, as the Buckeyes fell to Miami in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, and Texas didn’t qualify at all, despite having Arch Manning as their quarterback.
Currently, Texas is a slight 1.5-point favorite in Saturday’s matchup at most sportsbooks.
It’s worth noting that Saban started his high-major coaching career at Michigan State in the Big Ten back in 1994. He spent five years there before firmly establishing himself in the SEC for the remainder of his college coaching journey.
He coached LSU from 2000 to 2004, had a brief stint with the Dolphins, and then led Alabama for the last 17 years of his coaching career.
Throughout his time in coaching, Saban secured seven championships, one with LSU in 2003 and six with Alabama.
