Nick Saban enjoying broader view of college football as ESPN College GameDay analyst

After being on the sideline for the last four decades, Nick Saban is getting to be a fan of college football like the rest of us.

While at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club today in Birmingham, Saban spoke about his role this season on the desk of ESPN’s College GameDay.

“I know you’ll probably want to ask me about my new gig,” Saban began.

With that job, Saban says the best thing about it being able to be fully invested with the season. He was solely focused on his team and their opponent while he himself was coaching. Now, he’s getting to follow each of the programs and all of the players. He also gets to do so as part of a show that he has enjoyed this year with College GameDay.

“I guess the way I could explain it is, when you’re coaching a team, you kind of look at everything through a straw. You know, you look at your team, the team you’re playing. So, this has given me an opportunity to look at college football in general from a thousand feet,” Saban explained. “I never knew what Oregon was doing or Nebraska was doing or Texas Tech or any of those teams prior to this. So it’s been kind of fun to be able to take a view of college football in a much broader sense and to know and appreciate some of the better players in the country that, you know, maybe you didn’t get the opportunity to compete against in the past.”

“That’s one of the things that has been a lot of fun. And, of course, you know, I kind of like the team that we’re with on GameDay so that makes it fun as well,” said Saban.

Saban has been a hit this season as part of the show’s coverage alongside Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Pat McAfee, Lee Corso, and Desmond Howard. Whether in his analysis or through motivation, he has provided the insight you’d expect and more from someone who won seven national titles as part of career wins that reached a total of 297.

Many fans start their Saturdays with College GameDay, regardless of where they may be that weekend. It’s nice to know now too that Saban, the show’s newest member, is enjoying the experience as much the viewers.

Saban on his picks on ESPN College GameDay: ‘Miss Terry just completely kicks my ass’

Nick Saban is in a role that fits him as a media member – except for actually picking games.

While at the Monday Morning Quarterback Club, Saban was asked about his favorite part of being on College GameDay. With that, he joked about his picking ability, even admitting that his wife, Miss Terry, has him beat there.

“Sitting by (Pat) McAfee,” Nick Saban joked. “Being able to make no-consequence picks. I might be the worst picker in the history of all. I mean, Miss Terry just completely kicks my ass on GameDay in front of the whole world. I mean, how bad is that?”

Miss Terry proved that she’s the better picker as the celebrity guest ahead Alabama vs. Georgia earlier this season. She went 7-2 that week, beating Saban who went 6-3. That mark of 7-2 remains among the best of any guest picker all season long.

Of course, Miss Terry didn’t just beat her husband. She also earned bragging rights as he confirmed that she lets him hear about it at home

“You better believe it,” Saban smiled.