Meeting Mississippi State football's opponent: Alabama Crimson Tide

Meeting the Opponent – Week 5: Alabama Crimson Tide

By Evan Ertel | Sep 29, 2023

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA - SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide runs the team out of the tunnel for warm ups prior to facing the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

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Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after their 24-10 win over head coach Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA – SEPTEMBER 23: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after their 24-10 win over head coach Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

There has been lots of talk, nationally, about Nick Saban losing his fastball in today’s CFB landscape of NIL and Transfers. What is your take on that sentiment?

There’s a lot of the same talk among Alabama fans. In some ways, it’s true.

Though, I would argue that Saban lost his fastball in the 2018 championship loss to Clemson. The Tide had the 2020 squad that dominated everyone on offense, but outside of that, the defense just hasn’t been right since 2017.

With that said, I think he’s still the best coach in all of football… It’s just a lot closer than it used to be, and Alabama is a contender for the Natty, not the favorite, every year.

I think the transfer portal changes have been the biggest issue for him, not NIL talking points. Players are transferring out when they don’t win starting jobs as freshmen, and it’s led to a lot of talented but disorganized teams in the last few years.

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