Nick Saban: ‘I’ve got a little Buckeye in me’

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nick Saban’s affiliation with Alabama will stand the test of time with fans, but that won’t stop him from sleepily acknowledging his ties to other programs.

Especially when they just won the national championship.

When playing at the Memorial Tournament pro-am over the weekend, Saban was matched with Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who led the Buckeye’s to a national title win over Notre Dame last January.

In between holes, Saban spoke with the media about Day capturing his first championship where he made sure to point out his tenure with the program.

“I used to coach at Ohio State, so I got a little Buckeye in me,” Saban said.

Nick Saban chats with @StephOtey on hitting the links with @ryandaytime and recruiting Julian Sayin pic.twitter.com/KeAlf9G8EW

— 97.1 The Fan (@971thefan) May 28, 2025

Saban served as a defensive assistant at Ohio State under Earl Bruce for two seasons but was let go following the Liberty Bowl in 1981 and the rest was history.

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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77