Nick Saban Has Strong Feelings About This College Football Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jeremy Lockett | Last updated Sep 5, 2025 4:59 PM ET

West Virginia football is getting some unexpected attention this week, not from a conference rival or a pundit, but from one of college football’s biggest names.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban appeared live on The Pat McAfee Show from Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium ahead of Oklahoma’s matchup with Michigan, and he had some high praise for West Virginia.

Nick Saban Proud of His Mountaineers Roots

During the interview, McAfee pressed Saban on his Mountaineers roots. Saban, a Fairmont, West Virginia, native, said, “I’m a Mountaineer. A big one. We need to win this. That’s what I grew up in.”

Saban went on to discuss the challenges facing West Virginia this season, including their upcoming road trip to Ohio University.

“The Bobcats, they’re a good squad. I can’t believe how they scheduled that game as an away game,” Saban said.

McAfee added, “It’s been some tough years in Morgantown.”

Saban responded, “I’m all for the Mountaineers. I’m hopeful they have success this week. I’d love to see them beat Pitt next week.”

Speaking of the week three game of the year for the Mountaineers is the Backyard Brawl. Definitely one of the best rivalries in all of college sports, and Saban certainly knows that, having grown up in West Virginia and rooting on the Mountaineers in his younger days.

Assuming the Mountaineers and the Panthers take care of business this week, there's a very strong chance that Saban, McAfee, and the rest of the ESPN College GameDay crew will make their way to Morgantown next Saturday for the 108th edition of the Backyard Brawl.

https://x.com/PatMcAfeeShow/status/1964021501830537454

West Virginia Prepares for Rare Trip to Ohio University

West Virginia, led by coach Rich Rodriguez, heads to Athens, Ohio, for a rare visit to face the Ohio Bobcats at 4 p.m. Saturday at 27,000-seat Peden Stadium.

The Mountaineers have only visited Ohio University twice in program history, most recently in 1949, a 17-7 loss that marked the beginning of the end for coach Dudley DeGroot.

Their first matchup in 1897 also ended in a Bobcats victory. Even a national coaching icon like Saban is watching, and rooting for, the Mountaineers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: