He’s not coaching Alabama football anymore, but Nick Saban is still about to have to work. When the 2025 season opens, he’ll be back on set with ESPN’s College Gameday, which will open the season at Ohio State, for Lee Corso’s final week on the show.
Saban was back in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday, hosting a luncheon for his Nick’s Kids Foundation charity. While speaking to reporters at the event, he was asked who he likes to win the SEC during the 2025 season.
I think Texas is one of the teams that obviously is really, really good this year,” Saban said. “I think LSU has got a shot to be really good, I think Florida’s got a shot to be really good. I think Alabama and Georgia both have a shot to be really good, so I think there’s a lot of, sort of, top-end good teams.”
Texas will have a new quarterback on the field this season. With Quinn Ewers off to the NFL, the long-awaited anointing of Arch Manning is underway, with former Saban assistant Steve Sarkisian still head coach.
LSU is entering Brian Kelly’s fourth year in charge. The Tigers have likely their most talented roster of Kelly’s tenure, so expectations will be high in Baton Rouge.
Florida will have a highly-touted young quarterback in DJ Lagway behind center. The Gators are coached by another former Saban Alabama assistant, Billy Napier, who saved his job by getting hot at the end of the 2024 season.
Alabama was ranked No. 8 in the coaches top 25 poll ahead of the 2025 campaign. Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide beat Georgia last season, and will make the return trip to Athens and face Kirby Smart’s characteristically contending Bulldogs on the road this year.”
Saban won an Emmy for his work on College Gameday last season. He was correct in his preseason pick, that Georgia and Texas would meet up in the SEC championship game.
While Saban was hosting the Nick’s Kid’s luncheon, Alabama was wrapping up its fifth preseason camp practice, just down the street. The Crimson Tide is scheduled to open the 2025 season Aug. 30, on the road at Florida State.
