Paul Finebaum critiques Nick Saban's comments on Alabama's ranking
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 5, 2026, 4:03 PM
Last updated Aug 5, 2026
Alabama was ranked No. 11 in the preseason college football coaches poll, marking its lowest opening rank since 2008. During an interview, Nick Saban expressed that he prefers the team is not highly ranked, hoping it allows them to surprise opponents. Paul Finebaum responded critically on air, emphasizing Alabama's past dominance and questioning Saban's approach to managing expectations. Finebaum believes Saban's comments trivialize the program's historical success and questioned the messaging about the team's capabilities ahead of the upcoming season.
- •Alabama opened the season ranked No. 11 in the coaches poll.
- •This is the first time since 2008 Alabama is outside the top 10.
- •Finebaum criticized Saban's comments as undermining Alabama's legacy.
- •Saban hopes lower expectations allow the team to surprise rivals.
- 4:03 PMYahoo Sports — Paul Finebaum cannot believe the way Nick Saban talks about Alabama now
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
American Football•Aug 5, 2026, 1:11 PMBig 12 coach rankings 2026: Kalani Sitake makes dramatic rise as Deion Sanders' stock falters- American Football•Aug 5, 2026, 12:33 AMNick Saban co-authors letter to Congress: ‘Must pass the Protect College Sports Act’
- American Football•Aug 4, 2026, 10:13 PMDeion Sanders confirms Colorado assistant retired before fall camp
- American Football•Aug 4, 2026, 9:14 PMDeion Sanders opens Colorado camp setting a new tone
- American Football•Aug 4, 2026, 6:22 PM‘On the radar’ – How Stefon Diggs feels about joining Washington Commanders after Patriots exit revealed
- American Football•Aug 4, 2026, 3:46 PMNick Saban once caught former Alabama assistants Pete Golding and Steve Sarkisian playing hooky thanks to an unlikely hole-in-one
