Greg McElroy focused on power struggle between Nick Saban, Brian Kelly at SEC Media Days

Greg McElroy is fascinated by the power struggle between Nick Saban and Brian Kelly while at SEC Media Days.

The Alabama and LSU head coaches finally went head-to-head as conference foes last season, with Kelly’s Tigers coming out on top. Previously, Alabama dominated Notre Dame in the BCS National Championship Game a decade ago and defeated the Fighting Irish in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Rose Bowl a few years ago.

The 2023 matchup is intriguing considering LSU’s rapid rise under Kelly compared to a ‘down year’ for Saban.

“There’s a million different storylines in the SEC right now that intrigued me, but there really isn’t one that is as intriguing as the LSU-Bama dynamic and where Brian Kelly is in Year 2,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “And where Nick Saban is and Year 16, 17 whatever year it is, I lose track.

“That power dynamic right now, the overachievement of LSU and I guess some people have said, well the underachievement of Alabama the last couple years. Like they finished fourth last year, they finished second the year before, is that under achievement? I mean goodness gracious.”

McElroy scoffed at a down year notion for Alabama, which still won the Sugar Bowl over Kansas State despite missing the conference title game and College Football Playoff.

But Saban and Kelly certainly have a battle on their hands this year that could have big implications. LSU didn’t get to the CFP last year either due to multiple losses, as well as the SEC title game loss to Georgia.

“The expectations are absurd (for Alabama), but that rivalry is as intense right now,” McElroy said. “Because of the quality of play on the field is as high as it’s been since Nick Saban first got there in 2007 and 2008. My first trip to Death Valley as a player in 2008 was one of the craziest, most hostile environments I think I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It went to overtime, it was insane. That was wild. 

“But I feel like that rivalry maybe not quite to that extreme, because that was genuine hatred. That rivalry now is on the same level as far as intensity because of the quality on both rosters. So that’s an intriguing storyline.”

Saban and Kelly go head-to-head for the fourth time in their careers when Alabama hosts LSU November 4.