Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban is a defensive-minded guy.
So it’s not hard to believe that he thinks Tennessee’s elite defense hasn’t been talked about enough this year. Sounds like there could be a Tennessee defense-focused segment featuring Coach Saban on ESPN’s College GameDay on Saturday morning, too.
While appearing on The Pat McAfee Show from Sanford Stadium on Friday afternoon, Saban and McAfee broke down the upcoming Saturday night main event between Tennessee and Georgia from Athens. Saban began by noting a key storyline for Georgia before moving into his expanded thoughts on Tennessee.
“I think Georgia is beat up a little bit,” Saban said. “They’ve had some injuries. Guys that haven’t been able to play for them consistently on defense but I’ll tell you what, Tennessee is a good football team. They’re running the ball more but their defense, man. I don’t think people talk about their defense that much. I mean how many teams have not given up 19 points so far this season? Their defense is phenomenal.”
The answer to Saban’s question is zero. Well, Arkansas did score exactly 19, so maybe Saban meant 20. But the answer to 20 points is definitely zero. Tennessee has yet to allow more than 19 points this season and is the only team in the nation to do so. The Vols have played three ranked teams and only allowed 10 to NC State, 15 to Oklahoma, 19 to Arkansas, and 17 to Alabama.
Through nine games this season, Tennessee ranks No. 5 in scoring defense, No. 5 in total defense, and No. 5 in red zone defense. Not too shabby for an SEC schedule.
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Saban is always going to view the game through a coaching/scouting lens but his role on College GameDay means that he’s still working in that area. With Tennessee being featured as prominently as they have been this season, it’s given a chance for Saban to scout a little bit of Josh Heupel’s fourth team in Knoxville.
“I think they’ve played, you know, behind their defense a little bit and that’s why they’re running the ball more, shrinking the game, not scoring as many points, not making as many explosive plays – I’m talking about Tennessee now,” Saban said. “But Georgia has played them well. And I think when you play this team, how you prepare for them is really important.”
Neither Saban nor McAfee offered a pick for Saturday’s game between Tennessee and Georgia – we’ll have to wait until about 11:58 a.m. ET on Saturday morning for that. But Saban’s thoughts on Friday do suggest that the former Alabama coach is giving the Vols a shot on the road this week.
Defense does travel, after all.
No. 12 Georgia will host No. 7 Tennessee at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night in Athens on ABC. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for live, on-site coverage of the game in Sanford Stadium.
Check out the clip from The Pat McAfee Show below:
“I think Georgia is beat up a little bit & they’ve had some injuries..
Tennessee is a good football team & I don’t think people talk about their defense enough..
I don’t think the CFP Committee is thinking enough about strength of schedule”
Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Q98XXq2Ksu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 15, 2024
