Nick Saban Ends LSU Rumors but Says Tigers Still Tough

Nick Saban has made one thing clear — he is not going to LSU. Ever since Brian Kelly left the Tigers, Saban’s name kept popping up in rumor posts and fan debates. It got so loud that the former Alabama coach had to step in and shut everything down. But while he dismissed the idea of returning to Baton Rouge, he also gave LSU one of the biggest compliments a rival can receive.

Nick Saban appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on November 14. While talking about Alabama’s tough schedule under new coach Kalen DeBoer, Saban pointed out that LSU still has a strong roster.
“This has been a big grind… they’ve played four or five games against top teams,” Saban said. “Now they play Oklahoma… LSU is no slouch no matter what people think. They still have players.”

His comments came right after Alabama beat LSU 20–9. The Tide are now on an eight-game winning streak, 6–0 in SEC play, and have four ranked wins during that run. They sit at No. 4 in the CFP rankings. Based on the odds McAfee shared, Ohio State (+185) is the favorite to win the national title, followed by Indiana (+450), Texas A&M (+750), and then Alabama at +850. With the Buckeyes having a tougher schedule, Saban felt he needed to defend his former team’s spot.

LSU didn’t make things easy in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers fought hard, especially after switching quarterbacks. Starter Garrett Nussmeier began well, completing 18 of 21 passes for 121 yards. But the offense slowed down, and LSU turned to Mississippi State transfer Michael Van Buren. He brought a spark, going 4-for-6 on his first drive and adding some key rushing yards to cut the score to 17–9. His dual-threat style helped LSU stay in the game during the third quarter.

Linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. also stepped up in a big way. He finished with nine tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble that gave LSU great field position. After a few quiet weeks, Perkins looked like the explosive playmaker fans expect him to be.

But even with the praise, Nick Saban is not joining LSU’s coaching search. His daughter, Kristen, has been shutting down every rumor on social media. When an Instagram page listed Nick Saban as a possible replacement for Kelly, she fired back with, “Some of y’all are literally brain dead.” She also reposted Kirk Herbstreit saying Saban isn’t going anywhere. “My man is enjoying his life,” Herbstreit said.

Kristen doubled down after she and her parents were seen courtside at Alabama’s basketball game against Purdue. When one of the fans added, I am happy he is not in Baton Rouge, she responded by adding an emoji of disgust and, Same.

Nick Saban may never return to LSU, but he clearly still respects the Tigers. And coming from him, that respect means a lot.

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