Nick Saban rips Big Ten ahead of Texas-Ohio State showdown: And then nothing

Even in his post-coaching days, Nick Saban is an SEC man through and through.The former Alabama and LSU coach hyped up his former conference and took a shot at the Big Ten ahead of Saturday’s potential Game of the Year between No.1 Ohio State and No.

4 Texas in Austin.“We’ve already got nine teams in the top 25,” Saban said Friday on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN while discussing Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor.“It’s not like the Big Ten who has three good teams at the top and then nothing.”Saban’s comments certainly provide a talking point ahead of Saturday’s huge game, since backers of each conference each have their talking points as to which one reigns supreme.The SEC does have the claim to having a deeper league top to bottom, with No.2 Georgia, No.

4 Texas, No.8 LSU, No.

9 Ole Miss, No.10 Texas A&M, No.

11 Oklahoma, No.12 Alabama, No.

18 Tennessee and No.23 Missouri all in the Associated Press’ top 25 rankings.The Big Ten, meanwhile, has six with No.

1 Ohio State, No.5 Indiana, No.

6 Oregon, No.14 USC, No.

16 Penn State and No.19 Washington.Saban referencing “three good teams” means he doesn’t think much of USC, Penn State and Washington as true national title contenders.Where Big Ten fans can chirp back is that while the league may not have the firepower of the SEC, it has won the last three national titles — Michigan, Ohio State, Indiana — to end the SEC’s four-year run.The SEC hasn’t even placed a team in the national title game in that span.Both Ohio State and Texas have high hopes of playing for the national title after disappointing 2025 seasons, with the Buckeyes losing in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals to Miami and Texas not even qualifying for the tournament despite having Arch Manning under center.Texas is a slight 1.5-point home favorite Saturday at most sportsbooks.Saban, ironically, actually received his first high-major job with the Big Ten’s Michigan State in 1994 and ...