Nick Saban Calls College GameDay Picks ‘Rat Poison’ – And He’s Not Alone

Nick Saban has spent decades trying to keep the media off his teams’ backs. Whether it was silencing reporters in Tuscaloosa or locking down practice schedules, the former Alabama coach has always been a bit of a media‑shy ninja.

Now, as a regular on ESPN’s College GameDay, he finds himself on the other side of the microphone. And on Saturday, a clip from ESPN’s six‑part documentary simply titled Saban reminded him just how toxic those pre‑game predictions can feel.

“You can listen to me, or you can listen to those guys on ESPN,” Saban said, his voice a mix of frustration and a dash of amusement. He went on to label the whole thing “rat poison.” “It’s rat poison, okay? I used to hate it on Saturday morning,” he added, shaking his head as if recalling an old nightmare.

He painted a vivid picture: the team’s schedule is already set, the game is later that day, and suddenly every television screen is flashing a bold graphic that says Alabama will win. “I know the players are watching that,” Saban explained. “I’m wondering, is that going to affect their psychological disposition toward competing, the intensity they have, how they’re going to play in the game?”

When ESPN’s former NFL star‑turned‑host Pat McAfee asked, “Should they listen to people on ESPN now, or no?” the answer was unmistakable. “Hell no,” Saban replied, half‑grinning, half‑serious.

For the record, the coach‑turned‑analyst, along with former Heisman winner Desmond Howard and guest picker Bryce Young, all went with Alabama to beat Georgia that night. McAfee, ever the contrarian, backed the Bulldogs. Kirk Herbstreit, busy calling the game alongside Chris Fowler, sat out the pick altogether.

It’s a classic Saban moment – the same intensity that drove him to dominate the SEC now filtered through the lens of a TV analyst who still worries about the same thing: his players’ mindset. The irony isn’t lost on fans, who love to quote the “rat poison” line whenever the weekly hype machine revs up.

Whether you love or loathe those Saturday predictions, one thing’s clear: Saban’s old‑school instincts still rule his world, even when he’s sitting in the ESPN studio.