“Give our team some more fire under their a*s”: Fans suspect hidden meaning as Nick Saban picks Georgia and Texas for SEC championship game

In a surprising turn at the SEC Media Days 2024, former Alabama coach Nick Saban shared his bold predictions. He projected Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs and Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns to face off in the conference championship game this December, leaving Alabama out of the equation.

“I really like Texas,” Saban said [h/t Dawg Nation]. “I think Georgia’s got a really good team, but I believe in our Alabama team, too. I believe in Jalen Milroe. I just think the question marks in the secondary... until those get resolved, it’s hard to sort of jump on that bandwagon.”

Fans reacted quickly to Saban's predictions on X (formerly Twitter).

“He doing that to give our team some more fire under their a*s. Love to see coach still challenging this squad,” a fan said.

Another fan suggested that Saban cannot be a hundred percent biased.

"He got told to say that... can't be one hundred percent bias[ed] towards Bama."

One fan tried decoding Nick Saban’s comments.

“If anyone as a fan thinks this is a slight against Bama, u didn’t pay attention to Nick Saban.”

After Saban's bold predictions, some fans saw the rationale and others questioned his loyalty.

“I mean he's not just gonna show bias. I expect Bama to fall off a little year 1 without Saban, you all will pick up right where Saban left off in year 2 though. and I'm a Georgia fan saying this,” one tweeted.

“I wonder if the crowd will boo Saban if he picks Georgia to beat Alabama during GameDay?” another tweeted.

“Tricky Nick,” a fan commented.

Nick Saban is ready to help Alabama in any way he can

According to CFB insider Mike Rodak's tweet, Nick Saban said he doesn't interfere with the daily operations of Alabama football but wants the team to know he's there to help.

"I don't go into the [Alabama football] building. I don't try to meddle in what they have to do,” Saban said. “But I want them to know I'm there to help them any way I can.”

“I've met with the defensive coordinator numerous times. I've met with Kalen [DeBoer] numerous times. Recruiting coordinator numerous times. We are there, and we are available, and hopefully we can help them be one of the most competitive teams in the league."

Saban aims to help the Crimson Tide become one of the most competitive teams in the league.