Kirk Herbstreit raves about Nick Saban's coaching job in 2023, potentially best ever

Kirk Herbstreit can make the argument this is Nick Saban’s best season as a head coach based on what he had in front of him.

As the ESPN analyst put it, you can talk about any of the national titles won by Saban as his best job. But if you look at 2023 a little deeper, you might find this is the best one.

Especially if another national championship is on the way.

“You know, it’s easy to look at teams where they’ve already won a national championship and say okay that that team was really special and played on this field and beat Texas in 2009,” Herbstreit said on SportsCenter. “So it’s easier I guess for people to just say that was the best year. I think this, go back to who they were after they lost to Texas and then they played USF the next week, and they made a quarterback adjustment. 

“Think about having to go back to that man right there. Jalen Milroe, keep his confidence and both new coordinators Kevin Steele on the defense … And then you had you know, the other side where they had to obviously do a good job with Tommy Rees, kind of re-identifying a new offensive structure and what they wanted to do.” 

Saban practically adjusted on the fly, tinkered a little and allowed his coordinators to expand their wings as the season progressed.

“And I think they got a quarterback that well, we weren’t sure about, to now, we figured out our plan and how to attack what he does well, what he’s confident with,” Herbstreit said. “Got better on the offensive line, so that was tremendous to be able to watch that and see what he’s done as a head coach with those two coordinators.”

Saban emphasized that it’s been important to keep the team focused and avoid distraction amid a holiday and the general bowl festivities.

“I think we’ve tried to emphasize to the players it’s important that there’s a lot of distractions surrounding a game like this,” Saban said to media members while at Disneyland. “Especially being home for Christmas for a few days, traveling all the way out here. We had a practice yesterday and practice today, but got to stay committed to what got your team here, to let your players have some fun.”

Saban and Alabama take on Michigan in the Rose Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals Monday at 5:00 p.m. ET.