Nick Saban admits he will not pick against Alabama on ESPN, opens up on new opportunity

Nick Saban will not be Alabama‘s head coach next season, much to the delight of college football fans across the country. Not just because his run will not continue in Tuscaloosa but also because he will now be on our television screens on Saturday in the fall. ESPN College GameDay has hired Saban and he will join the show beginning in August.

Maybe the biggest question surrounding Saban is how he will handle Saturday Selections, especially when Alabama comes up. Somebody directly asked him if there was a world where he would pick against the Crimson Tide — something he would have previously called “yummy” rat poison.

“I’ve tried to steer away from picking people,” Saban said. “I think I’m going to have to do that now. But I don’t know that you always have to pick the team that you think is going to win. You’re allowed to have a spiritual feeling about who you like and who you want to win. So, I think it will be a lot of fun though.”

Saban’s first big decision regarding Alabama may come in Week 3. Wisconsin will be playing host for a huge nonconference showdown and it’s a matchup certainly worth consideration from ESPN College GameDay.

Based on an answer in mid-February, will Saban be picking against Alabama on Sept. 14? Likely not.

The picks will likely get more interesting as the SEC schedule wares on, specifically when Alabama is on the road for a big-time rivalry game. You can easily see GameDay showing up in Baton Rouge or Knoxville in 2024 and the crowd being a little louder when Saban makes his selection.

Nick Saban excited to appear on ESPN College GameDay

For the first time in a long time, Saban is not involved with something football-related on a daily basis. Saban, whether at the college level or the NFL, was working toward winning a championship. Now in retirement, he has been away from the game for just over a month.

Working for ESPN gives him the opportunity to still be involved with college football in the fall — something he’s looking forward to.

“I’m excited about it,” Saban said. “I’d like to continue to try to impact college football in a positive way in the future. I think that gives me a voice to do it. It keeps me involved in football. I have things to do. It’s not just being there. It’s the preparation that goes with it and how it can keep you involved in a game.”