Nick Saban’s thoughts on college football are taken as fact given his illustrious head coaching resume, especially when the conversation is about the Southeastern Conference in which his Alabama Crimson Tide play.
During an appearance on the SEC Network’s “SEC Now” show on Monday, Saban spoke about the conference’s newcomers, the Texas Longhorns.
Many believe the Longhorns, who will see quarterback Quinn Ewers return to head coach Steve Sarkisian’s team, can run the SEC like they did in the Big 12 last year.
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University of Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian talks with University of Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban before the game at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Tim Werner/Getty Images)
But Saban has a completely different take.
“It’s kind of funny when people ask me how Texas has always run the conference they’ve been in,” Saban said, “There’s no way Texas is going to run the SEC.”
“They’re a good team, a good program and Sark is going to do a great job, but it won’t be an issue.”
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Saban didn’t elaborate too much on the matter, but college football fans know what he thinks nonetheless.
SEC schools have produced some of the best players in college football every year for many years, and when the College Football Playoff comes around, one or two schools from the conference are usually in it.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (No. 3) throws a down-the-field pass against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first half of the Big 12 Championship at AT&T Stadium on Dec. 2, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
But the Longhorns are the team that advanced to the College Football Playoff last year, beating Oklahoma State in the Big 12 finals.
Saban then watched the Crimson Tide open the season with a 34-24 loss to the Longhorns, Texas’ only 2023 SEC opponent.
But five teams won at least 10 games in the SEC last year, showing just how talented and tough the conference can be for the Longhorns and Oklahoma, who also transferred from the Big 12.
Texas went 12-2 last season, so Sarkisian likely has high expectations for the team despite the move to the SEC. Coach Ewers returns but will be without two of its top receivers, Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell, who were drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts, respectively.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban attends the Rose Bowl coaches press conference at Sheraton Grand on December 31, 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA. (Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports)
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Saban, meanwhile, has been no spectator on the Crimson Tide’s sidelines, surprisingly announcing his retirement after the team’s loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Saban’s media career is just beginning, but like his coaching days, he reports as if he’s watching from behind a different headset these days.
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