Plenty of teams will benefit from the greatest coach in the history of college football retiring.

Let me back up.

Plenty of teams believe that they’ll benefit from Nick Saban retiring, but some will benefit more than others.

That’s not a knock against new Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer. It’s reality that anyone was going to be considered a downgrade. We’re talking about someone who won 6 national titles in Tuscaloosa and 9 of the past 15 SEC titles, which is also how many times he played for a national championship. Of course others stand to benefit.

Here’s who’ll benefit the most from a new era in Tuscaloosa:

Honorable mention: Texas, Ohio State and Oregon

I could’ve definitely slipped Texas in the top 5 in the new era of the SEC, but it’s hard to say that the Longhorns needed Saban to step down when they went into Tuscaloosa and handed Alabama its most lopsided home loss since his arrival. But the Longhorns will be competing for SEC titles in a Saban-less world, and that’s a welcoming thought as it enters the conference.

The Buckeyes are 2-12 against SEC teams in bowl games, including 3 losses in the 2020s alone. One of those was to Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship, where the Buckeyes have only been to once since taking down the Tide in the first Playoff.

Oregon will benefit simply for the fact that DeBoer is no longer the head coach at Washington, which beat Dan Lanning’s squad 3 times. Then again, maybe DeBoer will be waiting for the Ducks in the 12-team Playoff.

5. Tennessee

You could argue that Tennessee should be higher on this list. After all, we know what happened when the Vols finally took down Saban in 2022. Goalposts were tossed and lives were changed. But I’d actually argue that Josh Heupel had shown serious promise against the Alabama coach in those 3 meetings. I believe that Tennessee would’ve had the path to steal the occasional game with Alabama, which should’ve happened this past year when the Vols led by 13 at the break. So I’ll give Tennessee credit here and say despite Saban’s 16-1 record against the Vols, other teams will sleep easier with the G.O.A.T. calling it a career.

4. Ole Miss

Lane Kiffin is 0-5 against Saban. That includes the 2009 loss with aforementioned Tennessee. You can’t tell me that Kiffin didn’t have a Saban issue. Even this year, when he led in Tuscaloosa at halftime, it felt like forces were working against Kiffin. His offense turtled and Saban’s halftime adjustments made the difference. The only reason that Ole Miss isn’t higher on this list is those meetings aren’t usually to decide a division title. Ole Miss is still trying to make it to Atlanta for the first time, which could be in the works in 2023. Of course, a Georgia team that rolled Kiffin’s squad in Athens might still stand in the way of that.

3. LSU

I often wonder how different Les Miles’ time at LSU would’ve ended if Saban’s Alabama didn’t exist. The 2011 BCS National Championship loss to Alabama became the driving force behind everything he did, and instead, I’d argue it led to his demise. Like the aforementioned Heupel, Brian Kelly had actually shown some encouraging signs in those first meetings with Saban. And it’s also worth mentioning that scrapping divisions, along with the 12-team Playoff, will change the stakes of those showdowns in early November. But there are still plenty of recruiting battles that’ll pit those programs against each other, both in the portal and at the high school level. There’s no denying that Kelly’s pursuit of his first ring got more favorable with Saban’s exit, especially now that his competition has to establish himself in a new area just like he did.

2. Auburn

Duh. The only debate is whether Auburn is No. 1 or No. 2. I went with 2 because the last time that Auburn played Alabama for a shot at a division title was 2017. The team at No. 1 has had even higher stakes. But still, I cannot begin to imagine what it was like for Auburn to share a state with Saban’s Alabama. People dog Auburn fans and boosters for being crazy. Buddy, we’d all be crazy if that type of hurdle existed 3 hours away. Five Auburn head coaches had to recruit and coach against Saban. It’s a testament to Auburn that it won 5 of those matchups, and at Jordan-Hare, Saban was only 5-4. Going to a pair of national championship games and winning 1 during the Saban era was no small feat, but let’s be honest. Auburn fans are giddy.

There’s a reason that they rolled Toomer’s Corner on Wednesday.

1. Georgia

If Kirby Smart had beaten Alabama in the SEC Championship this year, I’d have a different feeling about that ranking. He would’ve been able to claim victories in his final 2 games against his former boss, and possibly, he could’ve pulled off a 3-peat in Saban’s final 3 years on the job. Instead, Saban pulled off the upset and finished 5-1 against Smart’s Dawgs. That matters. Not having to face Saban in Atlanta matters. Smart was 0-4 against Saban at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mind you, the guy only has 11 total losses since the start of the 2017 season. You can’t tell me that’s nothing. Smart is the new king of college football, and at just 48 years old, the only question is if he’ll be around long enough to catch the G.O.A.T.

Whether Georgia fans admit it publicly, Wednesday was a great day to be a Dawg.