Alabama Legend Nick Saban Makes SEC Championship Game Prediction

"Give me Alabama,' McAfee said. "And, who's the next one?"

"Texas A&M," Saban interjected.

Alabama has seen a resurgence after its 31-17 loss in the season opener to the Florida State Seminoles. Following that defeat, many fans dismissed the Crimson Tide. However, Alabama has bounced back with three consecutive victories, the latest being a 24-21 road win over the No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs.

Quarterback Ty Simpson has played a significant role in the team's resurgence. He had a tough first start against Florida State, completing only 53.5% of his passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns. However, since that game, he has improved drastically, completing 77.4% of his passes for 884 yards and nine touchdowns. Simpson has not thrown an interception this season.

Texas A&M has emerged as one of the surprise teams this season. The Aggies began the year ranked No. 19, but after securing victories against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on the road and the Auburn Tigers at home, they have climbed to No. 6 in the national rankings.

Texas A&M, which has not played in the SEC Championship Game since joining the conference in 2012, is led by quarterback Marcel Reed. He has thrown for 1,076 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions this season. His standout performance came against Notre Dame, when he passed for 360 yards, including a game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds. Although his completion percentage was not impressive at 45.9%, his ability to deliver in critical moments was evident.

Both Alabama and Texas A&M still have tough roads ahead, but McAfee's and Saban’s picks highlight just how competitive the SEC has been this season. The Crimson Tide appear to have found their rhythm behind quarterback Simpson, while the Aggies have surprised many with their explosive play under Reed. If both teams can sustain their momentum, the SEC Championship Game could feature one of the most compelling matchups of the 2025 season.