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Nick Saban dishes on his relationship with Lane Kiffin ahead of Saturday's showdown in Tuscaloosa

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•09/21/23
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At SEC Media Days, Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin expressed their latest thoughts on name, image and likeness after operating a year with NIL. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Alabama and Ole Miss are set to meet on Saturday in a fascinating mentor-student matchup between Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin.

Kiffin spent three seasons on Saban’s staff from 2014-16, rehabbing his coaching career and also helping innovate on Saban’s offense. The elder statesman is under no illusions about what kind of storylines their meeting this weekend will kick up.

“Well I think everybody sort of makes their relationships as guys that have worked here and we play against each other,” Saban said Thursday on The Pat McAfee Show. “That’s always a big story.”

Both coaches seem to have a healthy mutual respect for each other, even though Kiffin tends to have fun with things and will occasionally poke at Saban.

For his part, Saban is grateful for what Kiffin helped usher into the Alabama program.

“Lane did a fantastic job when he was here,” Saban said, praising his former offensive coordinator. “We kind of went from old school ball to modern day ball I want to call it, in terms of doing some things with RPOs and advantage throws and really sort of set us off for the future of what we do on offense and what we’ve been able to do on offense.”

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But now the Alabama offense is struggling a bit, trying to find the right quarterback. The Crimson Tide will go back to Jalen Milroe this weekend after temporarily turning the keys over to Tyler Buchner.

Ole Miss will have no such issues with continuity, as starter Jaxson Dart has been very good at quarterback all year long.

Alabama will enter as a seven-point favorite, according to FanDuel, but Saban is anticipating a dogfight based on what Kiffin brings to the table.

“I have nothing but respect for Lane and the kind of coach he is,” Saban said. “They’re doing a great job at Ole Miss. I mean they’re one of the best offensive teams in the country in terms of yards, production, problems created by what they do. So this is a challenge. It’s always a challenge when you play against good former assistants.”