Legendary former Alabama coach Nick Saban made headlines Saturday when he discussed his 2024 Vanderbilt comments during ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast from Tuscaloosa.
The seven-time national championship-winning coach addressed the controversy as the Crimson Tide prepares to face the Commodores.
What Did Nick Saban Say on College GameDay?
According to posts from ESPN’s Mike Rodak on X, Saban spoke to the College GameDay crowd about his infamous remarks from last year.
“Let me say one thing: revenge is not supposed to be a factor, but it is a factor today.”
Nick Saban to @CollegeGameDay crowd in Tuscaloosa: “Let me say one thing: revenge is not supposed to be a factor, but it is a factor today.”
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 4, 2025
Saban also referenced his original Vanderbilt comment from September 2024, when he told “The Pat McAfee Show” that Vanderbilt was the only SEC venue that wasn’t difficult to play at. That comment became bulletin board material after the Commodores upset top-ranked Alabama 40-35 last October.
“I want [to give] a public apology for saying that.”
Saban on @CollegeGameDay about his Vanderbilt comment last year, laughing: “I want [to give] a public apology for saying that.” https://t.co/TU6YukAGpo
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) October 4, 2025
The comments came as GameDay made its 21st trip to Tuscaloosa for the No. 10 Alabama-No. 16 Vanderbilt matchup.
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The game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC from Bryant-Denny Stadium, with Alabama looking to avenge last year’s stunning 40-35 upset loss — their first to Vanderbilt since 1984.
Why Did Saban’s Original Comments Backfire?
Saban’s September 2024 remarks came during his final season as Alabama’s head coach. He suggested Vanderbilt’s home field advantage was nonexistent compared to other SEC venues because Alabama fans typically outnumbered Commodores supporters.
The comment aged poorly. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia led the Commodores to a historic victory over the top-ranked Crimson Tide just weeks later. After the win, Vanderbilt displayed Saban’s quote on their video board in celebration.
The loss ended Alabama’s 23-game winning streak against Vanderbilt. It marked the first time the Commodores had defeated a top-five opponent in program history. Saban retired in January 2025 and joined ESPN as a college football analyst.
Now in his new role, Saban has actually praised this year’s Vanderbilt team. He called them “a lot better than what they had last year” and specifically highlighted Pavia’s leadership. On October 2, he warned Alabama fans against underestimating the Commodores.
Alabama comes in at 3-1 after beating Georgia last week. Vanderbilt arrives undefeated at 5-0. The Commodores just dropped 50-plus points in back-to-back games, something they haven’t done since 1915. Both teams are ranked. Both have playoff hopes. That makes this rematch more than just settling an old score.
Saban owning up to his mistake shows he’s settling into his new ESPN gig. The fact he laughed while saying it proves he can poke fun at himself now that he’s off the sideline. His comments just made an already spicy rematch even better.
