Nick Saban says he's 'a believer' in Penn State with play in CFP

Penn State has changed the mind of Nick Saban in how he’s viewing the team now that it is in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

Saban spoke highly of the Nittany Lions while on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Thursday. He did so, despite noting that their two games in the playoff haven’t been against as difficult of opponents as the ten other teams who have also played in it already.

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“I know Penn State hadn’t played the same level of competition in two games although those teams are very good,” Saban noted.

However, Saban has liked how Penn State has played as an all-around team. In the playoff, its offense has been in balance in scoring 34.5 points per game, while the defense has allowed 12 ppg. to their opponents and forced six turnovers. That has the Nittany Lions winning by a margin that’s tied for the most of the three highest-seeded at-larges who have so far all advanced from the first round into the semifinals.

All that has led Saban to think that the Nittany Lions are legit within the CFP.

“Their offensive live, though, and those two running backs they have? These guys have been able to run the ball effectively in the last few games very impressively. Then, to have a quarterback that can play behind the running game like that with play-action passes and staying out of long-yardage situations? I think they’re for real,” said Saban. “Their defense is paying really well too.”

With that, Saban says Penn State is playing as well as anyone besides maybe one other team to this point in the playoff.

“So, if you just go on how well teams are playing right now? You know, Penn State and Ohio State are probably playing the best,” Saban stated. “That doesn’t mean they necessarily are going to win or that Penn State’s going to win but I do think they’re playing extremely well.”

Penn State always wanted to be in the playoff and is making the most of its debut berth in it so far. They’ve now done so to the extent that Saban has been convinced of what they could do in the semis or further.

“I think Penn State is playing well on both sides of the ball and I think, you know, they’re a very good team,” said Saban. “I’m a believer. I was not a believer in Penn State early on. I’m a believer right now.”