Tennessee football news: Volunteers fans hit Nick Saban with NSFW chant
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With college football season heating up, Nick Saban still found a way to stir up Tennessee fans without even coaching against them.
During ESPN’s College GameDay broadcast from Knoxville on Saturday, Saban took a shot at the Volunteers while discussing the No. 1 Texas vs. No. 14 Tennessee matchup. The former Alabama coach was asked to weigh in on which “UT” program had the edge.
Saban initially appeared to side with Tennessee before turning the moment into a jab at the crowd.
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“I’m all in on the University of Tennessee,” Saban said. “Because we smoked 16 out of 17 cigars when we played you all.”
That's so rude Coach Saban 😂😂#CollegeGameDaypic.twitter.com/JMEnZOh5ZR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 26, 2026
The comment referred to the rivalry’s “Third Saturday in October” tradition and Saban’s 16-1 record against Tennessee during his Alabama tenure. His pointed comments immediately drew a reaction from the College GameDay set, with Pat McAfee laughing at the line.
The Knoxville crowd did not find the joke as funny. Tennessee fans responded with a loud NSFW chant aimed at Saban, turning the moment into one of the more heated exchanges of the broadcast.
The orange fans could be heard chanting “F*ck Nick Saban” in the background.
“That’s so rude Coach Saban 😂😂 #CollegeGameDay,” McAfee additionally wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the segment.
Saban’s record against Tennessee, however, explains the reaction. During his time at Alabama, he lost only once to the Volunteers, with Tennessee winning 52-49 in 2022.
Saturday’s broadcast was a revisit for Saban without having to put on a headset or step onto the sideline. The former Crimson Tide coach may now be working as an analyst, but he still knows exactly how to get a reaction from Tennessee fans.
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