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Nick Saban, Biff Poggi share hilarious back-and-forth on ESPN College GameDay: 'I learned it all from you'

Barkley-Truaxby: Barkley Truax09/20/25BarkleyTruax
Poggi-Saban
© Steve Sisney/For The Oklahoman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Biff Poggi, his alligator arms, Nick Saban and a Ferrari. Fans of ESPN’s College GameDay were treated to a hilarious story between the two longtime coaches that had both sides rolling in laughter on Saturday morning.

In 2022, Saban became a part of the ownership group of a Ferrari dealership in Nashville. Poggi, the ever-supportive friend, decided that he would purchase a Ferrari 812 Superfast from his dealership. The deal never went through, but the re-telling of the story made for a hilarious back-and-forth live on-air.

“I know everyone genuflects to the greatest college football coach ever, but not me,” Poggi said. “And I will tell you that we’ve been friends a long time. And I don’t know, he called me five or six years ago and he goes, ‘Hey, guess what? I’ve been chosen for a Ferrari dealership.’ I said, ‘Oh man, congratulations. Let me be the first guy to buy a car from you.'”

That car was the Ferrari 812 Superfast. However, the transaction was anything but.

“I will have a beard down to my knees before I see that 812,” Poggi said. It’s safe to say he never got it.

The GameDay panel of Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, Rece Davis and Desmond Howard were laughing. Saban hit Poggi with a swift jab:

“Oh, here was the problem,” Saban said. “When we got right down to the transaction — you had alligator arms. You could not reach in your pocket.”

Poggi responded, telling Saban to ask his Rolls-Royce dealer if he has alligator arms. McAfee said, let’s get back to football, but the banter between Poggi and Saban didn’t stop there. They transitioned to football, but spoke on Poggi’s past experience coaching St. Frances Academy (MD). He was the head coach there from 2017–2020.

“When you were at St Frances, I never saw you coach a down,” Saban said. “You were the owner. You were Jerry Jones. You paid the players and all that, you did the payroll. Are you using the same philosophy at Michigan?”

Poggi, without missing a beat, said. “Yeah, and I learned it all from you.”

This was a fantastic back-and-forth between two longtime friends and football coaches filled with playful jabs. Though it doesn’t seem like Poggi will be seeing his Ferrari anytime soon.

For now, Poggi is set to lead the No. 21 Michigan Wolverines against Nebraska in both teams’ Big Ten Conference opener on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET and will air live on CBS.