Nick Saban speaks on relationship with Jim Harbaugh, family ahead of Rose Bowl

Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh have only met once on the field back in the Citrus Bowl back in 2019. However, their connection goes further back according to Saban himself.

Saban spoke about his relationship with Jim and the Harbaugh family in a press conference on Monday night. He has crossed paths with several members of their tree and says, all in all, that they’re one of the sport’s most esteemed families.

“It’s a great family, the Harbaugh family,” said Saban. “I’ve known the dad. He used to help me when I was an old secondary coach. His brother, John? They’re great football people.”

“(I’ve) got a lot of respect for the entire family,” Saban said.

Alabama and Michigan met in Orlando on New Year’s Day in 2020. After a back and forth first half, the Crimson Tide pitched a shutout in the second half while scoring three touchdowns themselves. That is how it ended up being a 19-point victory for ‘Bama inside Camping World Stadium with the official final score being 35-16.

Since then, Harbaugh has put Michigan in position to make the College Football Playoff over the last three years. None had led to a meeting with Saban yet, though, until this year’s selection for the Rose Bowl.

No one can wait for the storylines that are going to continue to come out of a coaching matchup between Saban and Harbaugh. As two of the best in the game, it’s almost too good to be true and will be until they take the field in Pasadena four years from the day of their first matchup.

Even so, Saban isn’t reading too much into it considering the man on the opposite sideline comes from a bloodline that he holds in high regard.

Saban addresses sign-stealing, potential changes ahead of Rose Bowl

Michigan has rolled on through the 2023 season with a big cloud over its head.

The sign-stealing scandal still looms over the Wolverines with questions likely to be answered during the offseason. For now, though, the Wolverines want to go out and win a national championship with Alabama in the Rose Bowl being their first test.

Nick Saban decided to go the opposite route of some other coaches when asked if Alabama would have to change any of their signs ahead of the game on New Year’s Day in Pasadena.

“Not really,” Saban said. “We always change things up a little bit. We’re focused on what we have to do to try to get good execution. We’re not really concerned about any of that stuff.”

Alabama will have some extra time to change up its signals. Their last game came on Dec. 2 in the SEC Championship against Georgia — the result that got them into the College Football Playoff. Usually, there is just a week span to get the signs changed. Saban has nearly a month between then and the Rose Bowl versus Michigan.

However, he seemingly does not plan on doing anything special for Michigan. From the sign-stealing perspective, Alabama will treat the Wolverines as they would any other opponent.