College icon Nick Saban makes bold prediction for SEC team who ‘can matchup with anybody’ on Pat McAfee Show

ALABAMA legend Nick Saban shared a strong take on an SEC team ahead of the 2024-25 college football season.

The ESPN star, 72, appeared on The Pat McAfee Show live from Dublin, Ireland on Friday.

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The former Crimson Tide coach Saban praised Ole Miss head coach Kiffin, who worked under him as Alabama’s offensive coordinator for two seasons from 2014-16, and the team’s program.

“Ole Miss is going to look like a big-time program up front, which has always been their issue,” Saban said.

“They lost to us and Georgia last year because they couldn’t match-up up front.

“Skill-wise, quarterback-wise, they can match up with anybody.

“Now they’ve recruited some guys through the portal to shore up the offensive line, they’ve got a better defensive line, they’re going to look like an SEC team up front, which is going to make them very dangerous.”

Before his praise of the Rebels, McAfee asked Saban about a quote that he was credited with saying to his agent Jimmy Sexton where he threatened to fire him due to Kiffin while the pair worked at Alabama.

Saban denied the quote which was detailed in AL.com’s book The Price: What It Takes to Win in College Football‘s Era of Chaos.

“I never made a quote about Lane Kiffin, so that wasn’t me,” the seven-time national title winner Saban told McAfee.

Saban later complimented Kiffin’s coaching on the ESPN show.

“I’m telling you, Lane is one of the best playcallers in the country,” he said.

“He did a great job for us when he was with us, and (the) guy always knows what to call next.

“He can take advantage of a defense as well as anybody.”

Kiffin seemed to have a sense of humor about the situation and reacted to Saban’s words on social media.

“Miss you, too, Coach,” he posted on X along with a blowing-a-kiss emoji.

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Saban made his debut appearance on College Gameday on Saturday.

He was alongside host Reece Davis and analysts Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, and Kirk Herbstreit.

It was the program’s first-ever overseas show in Dublin, Ireland.

The broadcast came before the season opener between Florida State and Georgia Tech at the Aviva Stadium.