Nick Saban believes Auburn football will be the most improved team in the SEC for the 2024 season, acknowledging the team that challenged him the most during his time at Alabama and giving credit to Hugh Freeze, who similarly posed challenges while at Ole Miss.
“I think Auburn is going to be the most-improved team in the league,” Saban stated during his College GameDay debut on August 24 (via AL.com). “I really do.”
Kirk Herbstreit, Saban’s co-host, also noted that Auburn could be a potential thorn for SEC opponents this season. The College GameDay panel is not underestimating the Tigers.
John Cohen fears Alabama can still give Auburn football problems without Nick Saban
Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen is optimistic about the Tigers’ future but isn’t assuming they’ll dominate Alabama just because Nick Saban has retired. After Saban stepped down, Cohen acknowledged Alabama as a potential contender.
“Alabama won national championships before Saban arrived, and they have the potential to win them after he’s gone,” Cohen said in January. “I have the utmost respect for both Coach Saban and Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne. My expectation is that Alabama will continue on a successful path in football.”
Cohen also emphasized that Saban’s retirement doesn’t impact Auburn’s trajectory, which he believes depends on the Tigers’ own culture rather than external factors.
However, Cohen may have underestimated the impact of Alabama’s transition from Saban to Kalen DeBoer, which weakened some of their key relationships. This shift has allowed Auburn to build a pipeline from Thompson High School, as Freeze, now the longest-tenured coach in the state, has the strongest local high school connections.
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