Nick Saban Shared What Bothered Him About Final Game Before He Retired
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Key Points:
- Nick Saban had words with Michigan coach Sherrone Moore
- He recalled what bothered him about his final game
- The Tide’s star QB has strong Heisman odds
The Alabama Crimson Tide have soldiered forward with Kalen DeBoer as the team’s head coach this season, but things haven’t quite been the same with Nick Saban on the College GameDay set and the Tide not quite their usual dominant selves.
On Monday, Saban’s comments were revealed on one of his most infamous games, the 2024 Rose Bowl against Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan Wolverines.
Saban revealed what really bothered him about the game in comments made by Wolverines head man Sherrone Moore.
Saban Tipped His Cap to Sherrone Moore
Saban tipped his cap to former Wolverines assistant and current Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore after Michigan’s narrow Rose Bowl win in Pasadena, Calif.
Moore recalled the story on Monday saying that he and Saban speak regularly and he considers Saban something of a mentor now.
“I remember him talking about, ‘I really didn’t like you guys’ game plan against us,” Moore said.
“You guys shifted and motioned every play. It was annoying!’ And then I was like, ‘Thanks, Coach. Appreciate it,'” Moore said about Saban.
Sherrone Moore considers Nick Saban as a mentor. The two connected after the 2024 Rose Bowl and now speak regularly.
“I remember him talking about, ‘I really didn’t like you guys’ game plan against us. You guys shifted and motioned every play. It was annoying!’ And I was like,…
— Alejandro Zúñiga (@ByAZuniga) November 10, 2025
Mateer, OU Head to Tuscaloosa for Top 15 Showdown
A top tier quarterback duel is expected for Saturday with Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer and the rest of his squad headed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for a top 15 showdown this Saturday against Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide.
The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Mateer is still in the Heisman race at +15000 odds according to BetMGM while Simpson is hovering near the top of the list at +500.
The game could game down to myriad factors but Simpson and Mateer will garner most of the attention.
Saban knows as well as anyone that strong quarterback performances can help get a team over the top against high quality opposition.
His starter, Jalen Milroe, was shut down by the Wolverines during his final game, but few expect the same to happen to Simpson down the stretch of what could be another College Football Playoffs season in Alabama.
Related: Kirk Herbstreit Shouts Out Unsung Hero of Penn State vs. Indiana Game
Related: Texas A&M’s Case For #1 Ranking Gets Support From Unlikely Coach
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Nov 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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