Nick Saban is already making headlines at SEC media days, with the former Alabama head coach making his prediction for the 2024 SEC Championship Game.
And the former Alabama coach tabbed Georgia and Texas to meet in Atlanta at the end of the season.
“I really like Texas,” Saban said. “I think Georgia’s got a really good team, but I believe in our Alabama team, too. I believe in Jalen Milroe. I just think the question marks in the secondary... until those get resolved, it’s hard to sort of jump on that bandwagon.”
The former Crimson Tide head coach did not pick his own team entering the 2024 season. Saban stepped away following the 2023 season, one where his Alabama team beat Georgia in the SEC championship game.
Alabama has had a ton of roster turnover, in addition to Kalen DeBoer taking Saban’s former job.
Saban though isn’t down on Alabama by any stretch. He still knows there is plenty of talent at Alabama.
“I think Bama has really got a lot of good players. I think they’ve got question marks in the secondary, especially at corner, and getting (Kadyn) Proctor back probably was important because they were a little weak at tackle,” Saban said. “So that’s going to help them, but I think depth of the team would be the biggest question: Can Alabama stay healthy? I think they have enough good first-line players to compete against anybody.”
Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy was equally high on Georgia and its chances entering the season.
“I’m not going to deny that (Georgia’s) roster is favorable to everybody else. I think that they have fewer questions,” McElroy said. “There are things about last year’s team that are a little bit troubling. Perhaps kind of how maybe the edges of the defense performed and how they struggled at times against zone read. You watch the Bama game, you watch the Missouri game, even watch the Georgia Tech game. There were things about Georgia last year that were certainly imperfect, but I still think they probably have the fewest questions. Texas is right there. I don’t think Bama is as far behind as everybody else likes to think.”
Georgia will play both Alabama and Texas during the 2024 season, with both games being on the road. The Bulldogs visit Alabama on Sept. 28 and then travel to Texas on Oct. 19.
The official predicted order of finish will be released on Friday. This year’s SEC championship game is set for Dec. 7 in Atlanta.
The Bulldogs will meet with the media on Tuesday. In addition to hearing from head coach Kirby Smart, quarterback Carson Beck, defensive lineman Mykel Williams and safety Malaki Starks will speak to reporters.