Make New York Post a Preferred Source Nick Saban trolled the fans at Tennessee, spurring members of Vol Nation to fire right back at the retired coaching legend.
As a panelist on ESPN’s “College GameDay” on the Knoxville campus for Saturday’s SEC showdown with top-ranked Texas, Saban responded to jeers by mockingly reminding everyone that he posted a 16-1 record against Tennessee during his time at Alabama.
ESPN College GameDay analyst Nick Saban talks during the show on the lawn of Ayres Hall at the University of Tennessee, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Getty Images The crowd then responded with a chant of “F–k Nick Saban.”
“I’m all in on the University of Tennessee. Because we smoked 16 out of 17 [victory] cigars when we played you all,” Saban had said to the crowd, prompting the vulgar retort.
Under Saban, the Crimson Tide took 15 consecutive wins in the rivalry between 2007-21 before the Volunteers finally posted a 52-49 victory in 2022.
Tennessee also posted a head-to-head victory in 2024, after Saban retired from coaching, and the sides will meet this season on Oct. 17 in Knoxville.
Fans hold signs and cheer during ESPN’s College GameDay show held outside of Ayres Hall on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, Tennessee, Saturday, September 26, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The Volunteers opened this season with a 3-0 record and were ranked No. 14 in the country entering Saturday’s home game against Arch Manning and Texas at Neyland Stadium.
