Nick Saban reveals what impressed him while watching Alabama’s second scrimmage

Former Alabama coach Nick Saban is in Ireland for his first College GameDay assignment of the 2024 football season. But he was in Tuscaloosa last weekend for the Crimson Tide’s second and final preseason scrimmage. Saban came away impressed by his former team.

“Alls I can tell you is I went and watched last week’s scrimmage on Saturday, and that team still has the same culture they had when I was the coach,” Saban said on College GameDay . “They play with toughness. They play with great effort. They execute well. They’ve got good discipline. So Kalen has done a really good job.

“He’s had to replace some players because so many guys transferred, but I really think Alabama, with Jalen Milroe , the two running backs that they have. I was worried about the defense, but I think the defense really impressed me in the scrimmage that they are coming along.”

Alabama welcomes back 10 starters (5 offense, 5 defense) from last year’s team, which was the last of Saban’s legendary, 17-year tenure with the Tide. He was replaced by Kalen DeBoer , who led Washington to the College Football Playoff in 2023, and DeBoer and his new staff were tasked with retaining and replenishing the roster after Saban’s retirement.

The position group most impacted by Saban’s departure was the secondary, and when Saban did not pick Alabama to reach the SEC Championship Game last month at the league’s media days, he cited the questions surrounding the defensive backfield as a top reason.

But after watching last week’s scrimmage – one DeBoer and the rest of the Tide team said was the most physical of the offseason – Saban changed his tune as the 2024 season begins.

“If they can play the kind of defense, especially in the secondary because they lost so many players in the secondary, they’re gonna be right up there challenging people,” Saban said.

Saban shares 12-team playoff prediction

Also during his first College GameDay broadcast, Saban joined his new colleagues in making a prediction for the 12-team playoff. Alabama was one of five SEC teams that Saban picked.

Saban picked Georgia to win the SEC, as well as the national title.

1. Georgia
2. Ohio State
3. Florida State
4. Utah
5. Texas
6. Oregon
7. Alabama
8. Ole Miss
9. Penn State
10. Notre Dame
11. LSU
12. Liberty

The 12 participating teams will be the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and will receive a first-round bye.

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