Nick Saban reveals he texted Kirby Smart after Alabama's win over Georgia in Week 5

Yes, Nick Saban was the longtime Alabama head coach, but he is also close friends with Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.

Smart’s Bulldogs battled Saban’s former team in a classic game last Saturday night in Tuscaloosa, before dropping a heartbreaker to Alabama.

Saban revealed on ESPN College GameDay Saturday morning that after the Bulldogs came up short, he reached out to Kirby Smart with encouraging words.

“I know how disappointed everybody in Georgia had to be about Georgia losing the game,” Nick Saban said. “But I actually texted Kirby after the game and said, ‘Hey, this is not the worst thing that ever happened.’”

Saban added that if you have a team with the right makeup, it can bounce back from a tough loss to still have an outstanding year and perhaps win a national title.

With the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams this season, dropping a game is even less of an issue as far as still being able to get into the CFP at the end of the year.

“You know, most of our best teams lost a game somewhere along the line,” Saban said. “And they responded the right way because we had really good leadership on the team that held people accountable to do things the way you need to do them to have success.”

Earlier on ESPN College GameDay, Nick Saban discussed what it’s like trying to play the next week after an emotional win or emotional loss. He feels that it’s easier to rebound from a tough loss than it is to prepare the next week following a big win.

“I think it’s tougher for when you have a big win,” Saban said. “I think when you have a loss and players are disappointed, just human nature that everybody seems to respond better when you have a thunderbolt, something bad happens. Everybody’s willing to make the changes they need to make to get it right. And I think Georgia will respond in a really positive way.”

The Bulldogs are hosting Auburn this weekend in a rivalry game as they look to bounce back. The Tigers come in reeling having lost to all three power conference opponents they have faced this year. Saban expects Georgia to take care of business against the Tigers.

The schedule is tough the rest of the way, though, as Georgia has games remaining at Texas, at Ole Miss and vs. Tennessee.