But this year, the former Alabama football coach is looking at the newly adopted 12-team model from a different perspective: analyst.
This year is the first year that the College Football Playoff field will expand to 12 teams, with each of the Power Four conference champions earning first-round byes. As for the other eight teams in the field, those will be at-large teams selected by the College Football Playoff selection committee. The first release of the CFP rankings is set for Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. ET.
Here’s what you need to know on who Saban picked to make the College Football Playoff and win the national championship on Saturday’s edition of ‘College GameDay’:
Nick Saban’s College Football Playoff projection
Saban had Alabama in the College Football Playoff as a No. 7 seed and hosting Notre Dame at Bryant-Denny Stadium in the first round, a new change to the playoff format this year. He also picked Liberty, which competes in Conference USA and received 15 votes in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll, to make the CFP as the No. 12 seed.
‘I have Georgia, Ohio State, Florida State and Utah. Those are my four bye teams,’ Saban said.
Of the 12 teams he picked, Saban said he doesn’t believe those within college football are talking enough of Penn State and LSU, the latter of the two being a former stomping ground for Saban back in the early 2000s.
‘I think Penn State’s got a really good team and a great culture. They would have been in the playoff with 12 team playoff the last couple years,’ Saban said. ‘I think (LSU quarterback Garrett) Nussmeier is going to be one of the sleepers in college football this year at quarterback. LSU always has skilled guys…’
Here’s who Saban picked to make the College Football Playoff this season:
1. Georgia (SEC champion)
2. Ohio State (Big Ten champion)
3. Florida State (ACC champion)
4. Utah (Big 12 champion)
5. Texas vs. 12. Liberty
8. Ole Miss vs. 9. Penn State
6. Oregon vs. 11. LSU
7. Alabama vs. 10. Notre Dame
Nick Saban ‘College GameDay’ National Championship projection
Pick: Georgia
Saban chose Alabama and SEC foe Georgia to be the last one standing and hoist the national championship trophy in Atlanta come January.
If Georgia does go on to win the CFP and the national championship, it would be the third national championship title for the Bulldogs in four years.
‘I’m still going with the fact that somebody has to prove that they can beat Georgia,’ said Saban on why he chose the Bulldogs, citing the dominance of Georgia in recent years in college football.
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