Nick Saban says LSU game is a ‘scary situation’ for Alabama
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Nick Saban doesn’t need any lessons on the bitter SEC rivalry between LSU and Alabama.
The 74-year-old coaching legend lived the rivalry from both sidelines, coaching in Baton Rouge from 2000-2004 and, of course, leading the Crimson Tide to 6 national titles during his glorious 17-year run in Tuscaloosa that ended in 2023. Saban did win 1 national title at LSU, too, accomplishing that in 2003, so he’s well-versed in what makes both programs so tough to play against.
Yes, LSU has fallen on hard times in 2025, firing head coach Brian Kelly a few weeks ago. Saturday night’s renewal of the LSU-Alabama rivalry in Tuscaloosa will be the Tigers’ first game since the firing, and they will be led by interim head coach Frank Wilson. On paper, all signs point to Alabama running its win streak to 8 in the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC, but Saban said hold on 1 second during his weekly Friday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.
“I think it’s a very scary situation because it’s very much unknown to them, how is LSU’s team going to react to this?” Nick Saban said. “The (LSU) players have nothing to lose. Are they going to play free and easy? They probably feel a little disrespected in how their season has gone, their coach getting fired. This is not a game that Alabama can not go out and play their best game of the year.”
Saban also pointed out during his appearance how tough LSUs defense still is, and how much of a challenge it will be for Alabama’s offense on Saturday night.
The Tide will be trying to stay undefeated in the SEC, while the Tigers will just be trying to get back to .500 in conference play.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
