Nick Saban Names SEC Powerhouse That Could Surprise CFP Contenders in 2026

The seven-time national champion says one SEC roster is quietly stacked with more talent than its ranking shows.

College football analyst Nick Saban believes this SEC school can sneak up on some teams in 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Every preseason, college football fans spend weeks arguing over who belongs at the top of the rankings and who got shortchanged. Most of that debate settles once the pads come on and results start rolling in.

But every so often, someone with real credibility steps in early and points to a team nobody is talking about. That is exactly what happened this week when a Hall of Fame coach weighed in on the SEC race, and his pick wasn't who most people expected, given the league's new hierarchy.

Nick Saban says Alabama can sneak up on people in 2026

Appearing on The Pat McAfee Show, Nick Saban was asked directly about the state of the SEC and whether Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs represent the conference's best shot at bringing a national title back to the South. Saban made clear he likes what Smart and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian have built.

"I talk to (Georgia coach) Kirby (Smart) and (Texas coach Steve Sarkisian) Sark both," Saban said. "I think both those guys have really good teams. I think they're the two teams, at least on paper looking at this season, that have the best chance to be successful and maybe go a long way in the playoffs."

Saban did not stop there. He pointed to his old program as a team capable of catching people off guard.

"I think Kirby and Sark both have really good teams..

Georgia and Texas have a chance to go a long way in the College Football Playoff..

I think Alabama could sneak up on some people this year" ~ Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kDZ1tjXUi3

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 21, 2026

"They may be able to sneak up on people a little bit this year under the radar," Saban said of Alabama.

Saban also tied that sleeper potential to roster age and continuity in the transfer portal era. He said teams that hang onto veteran players have a real edge over younger rosters, pointing to Indiana's mature roster last season as a prime example. As for what Alabama needs to fix, Saban was specific about one unit.

"It's going to be imperative, though, that the offensive line play better so that the quarterback, whoever it is, has an opportunity to play better," Saban said.

What college football analysts are saying about Alabama nationally

Saban's comments land at an interesting moment for Alabama. The Crimson Tide open the 2026 season ranked 13th in the preseason AP Top 25, the program's lowest preseason spot since 2008. Georgia sits at No. 3 and Texas at No. 5, both ahead of five other ranked SEC teams before Alabama even shows up on the list.

That low ranking hasn't scared national analysts away from believing in Alabama's ceiling. A panel of On3 experts during SEC Media Days landed on a shared theme heading into Kalen DeBoer's third season in Tuscaloosa. Some questions linger, like whether offensive line coach Adrian Klemm rebuilds the line and whether redshirt sophomore Austin Mack or sophomore Keelon Russell settles in at quarterback.

Quarterback Keelon Russell drops back under the watch of offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb during the first practice session of the preseason for the Alabama Crimson Tide. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Plus, Alabama needs to find a physical rushing attack again; the roster has enough talent to compete with anyone in the country. If those problems linger, analysts warned Alabama could be watching the Playoff from home in December.

Mack and Russell are competing to replace Ty Simpson, who left for the NFL after starting last season and going in the first round to the Los Angeles Rams. Mack got extended game action late in the year, including relief duty in Alabama's Rose Bowl loss to Indiana after Simpson suffered a cracked rib. Offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb has called the competition close, and DeBoer has said a two-quarterback system is off the table heading into the season.

National college football voice Andy Staples pointed to Alabama's defense as a reason for confidence, specifically praising pass rusher Yhonzae Pierre as one of the nation's elite defenders while expressing confidence in the rest of the roster. Staples said the offense has to be more balanced after the running game struggled to find consistency last year.

Oklahoma's John Mateer (10) is pressured by Alabama's Yhonzae Pierre (42) in the second half of the College Football Playoff game. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

J.D. PicKell offered a similar mixed view, citing the new starting quarterback and reshuffled offensive line as reasons for caution, while also saying he would not be surprised if Alabama exceeded expectations and returned to the Playoff.

The difference between Alabama's ranking and its perceived talent is the story Saban pointed to on McAfee's show. A team with a proven pass rusher, a fixable offensive line question, and something to prove after being left outside the top 10 for the first time in nearly two decades fits the profile of a team built to move up fast once the season actually starts.