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In anticipation of Saturday’s showdowns between Alabama and Mississippi State as well as Auburn and Georgia, Saturday Down South takes a closer look at the coaching matchup in each game. This week’s matchups include Alabama head coach Nick Saban against Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, and Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn against Georgia’s Mark Richt.
NICK SABAN
- Record as FBS head coach: 173-58-1 (82-16 at Alabama; 48-16 at LSU; 34-24-1 at Michigan State; 9-2 at Toledo).
- Previous coaching stops: Miami Dolphins (head coach), LSU (head coach), Michigan State (head coach, defensive coordinator, defensive backs coach), Cleveland Browns (defensive coordinator), University of Toledo (head coach), Houston Oilers (defensive backs coach), Navy (defensive assistant), Ohio State (defensive backs coach), West Virginia University (defensive assistant), Syracuse University (defensive assistant), Kent State (defensive assistant, graduate assistant).
- Achievements as coach: Four national championships, four SEC championships, seven SEC West titles, one MAC championship, two-time Associated Press National Coach of the Year, two-time Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, three-time SEC Coach of the Year, Paul “Bear” Bryant Award winner.
Breakdown: Saban has been there and done that as far as highly anticipated regular season matchups are concerned, and there’s no reason to think he won’t find a way to win Saturday. His team was on the brink of defeat against a fierce rival in one of the most hostile road environments in the country just last week, but the Tide still found a way to win and keep its title hopes alive. This week Alabama is at home against a Mississippi State team off to its first 9-0 start ever, and a win by the Tide would vault it back atop the SEC West. Saban teams are typically at their best in these kinds of situations when they can eliminate a potential threat right then and there. Look for Alabama to do just that on Saturday.
DAN MULLEN
- Record as FBS head coach: 45-28 (all at Mississippi State)
- Previous coaching stops: University of Florida (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach), University of Utah (quarterbacks coach), Bowling Green State (quarterbacks coach), Notre Dame (graduate assistant), Syracuse University (graduate assistant), Columbia University (wide receivers coach), Wagner College (wide receivers coach).
- Achievements as coach: N/A
Breakdown: It’s been well-documented that entering this season Mullen had lost 15 straight games against ranked opponents as a head coach. This year, however, he’s 3-0 against ranked foes, all of which were ranked in the top 10 when Mississippi State beat them. The Bulldogs haven’t faced a ranked opponent in more than a month, and their play has begun to level off following recent narrow victories against Kentucky and Arkansas. Whether or not Mississippi State has lost its swagger remains to be seen, but we do know this is the biggest game in Mississippi State history. Mullen got the Bulldogs this far, so it’d be tough to argue there’s anyone better for the job as the Bulldogs put their season on the line Saturday.
Who has the edge: Saban has the edge, but it’s not as definitive as you might think. Saban will earn an edge in almost any game against almost any team or any coach, simply because he’s one of the most accomplished coaches in history. This game is no exception. However, Mullen deserves a ton of credit for getting his team this far, especially considering the lack of a storied football tradition at MSU compared to Alabama. The way Mullen has navigated Mississippi State to its 9-0 record has been exceptional, but Saban is familiar with big stages like the one Saturday will provide, and he often navigates his teams to 9-0 or 8-1 starts to the season. The nod goes to Saban and his experience in these kinds of games, but Mullen absolutely has something to prove this weekend in Tuscaloosa.
GUS MALZAHN
- Record as FBS head coach: 28-7 (19-4 at Auburn; 9-3 at Arkansas State)
- Previous coaching stops: Arkansas State (head coach), Auburn University (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach), Tulane University (co-offensive coordinator, assistant head coach, quarterbacks coach), University of Arkansas (offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach), Springdale (Ark.) High School (head coach), Shiloh (Ark.) Christian School (head coach), Hughes (Ark.) High School (head coach, defensive coordinator)
- Achievements as coach: SEC championship, SEC West title, SEC Coach of the Year, Paul “Bear” Bryant Award, AP Coach of the Year, Home Depot Coach of the Year, Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year.
Breakdown: Malzahn lost just his third regular season game in two seasons as the head coach at Auburn when the Tigers fell to Texas A&M last week, and this loss may have put a second straight SEC title out of Auburn’s reach. However, Malzahn is not only undefeated following a loss at Auburn, but his teams have won by an average margin of 13 points per game the week after a loss. Malzahn remains on the short list of best coaches in the SEC, and his team still has a chance to reach a New Year’s Six bowl if it avoids a third loss this year. Auburn must regain its rhythm this week, and that begins with Malzahn’s coaching in a high stakes game in Athens.
MARK RICHT
- Record as FBS head coach: 133-47 (all at Georgia)
- Previous coaching stops: Florida State (offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, graduate assistant), East Carolina (quarterbacks coach).
- Achievements as coach: Two SEC championships, six SEC East titles, two-time SEC Coach of the Year.
Breakdown: Richt is an SEC legend, and his team remains one of the most dangerous in the SEC this season despite a pair of terrible losses to South Carolina and Florida. The Bulldogs get Todd Gurley back this week and are riding high following a 63-31 road victory over Kentucky last week. Richt and the Dawgs are still in the thick of the SEC East race, but this is their last conference game of the season, meaning they cannot afford another SEC loss. Look for Richt’s team to play with a sense of urgency as it aims to avenge last year’s unforgettable loss to the Tigers.
Who has the edge: Richt earns the edge even though Malzahn has the better team. Georgia’s head man is familiar with reincorporating players returning from suspension, and he’ll get the most out of Todd Gurley and fellow tailback Nick Chubb this week against a vulnerable Auburn defense. Likewise, Richt has not forgotten how Auburn ruined Georgia’s season last year on a Hail Mary from Nick Marshall to Ricardo Louis, and a desire to avenge that loss is certain to fuel his players Saturday night. There isn’t much separating these coaches, but the tiebreaker goes to the man with 14 years of experience and two conference titles.
A former newspaper reporter who has roamed the southeastern United States for years covering football and eating way too many barbecue ribs, if there is such a thing.
