Nick Saban did his best to look excited during Oz the Mentalist’s appearance on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ ahead of Indiana vs. Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff
Nick Saban (R) interacts with Oz the Mentalist (
Image: ESPN)
Oz the Mentalist dropped by the ‘College GameDay’ set on Friday ahead of Indiana vs. Notre Dame to wow the panel featuring Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Desmond Howard, and Kirk Herbstreit with magic.
Oz’s first trick was played on seven-time college football National Championship-winning head coach Nick Saban, who despite the cold Indiana weather was wearing an outfit fresh out of ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Arc.’
“Speaking of coaches, I have quite literally the greatest coach in college football history,” Oz said to Saban. “Coach, look my right in the eyes, and here’s what I want you to do.”
The former Alabama coach did his best to look amused before Oz added: “Imagine me and Pat are lined up for a field goal kick. Random. This could be long, short, middle, whatever. How many yards are we kicking this field goal?”
“34,” Saban answered. Oz then said: “34-yard kick, picture that. Coach, hand on the Bible God above, did I tell I tell you to say that number right now or could you have said [anything]?”
“You did not tell me,” Saban answered. Oz took off his jacket to reveal a shirt saying ’34-yard field goal.’ While he got a chorus of laughter from the rest of the ESPN panel, Saban gave him just a wry smile.
Nick Saban’s last game with Alabama was his side’s defeat to Michigan in last year’s CFP ( Getty Images)
“Nick Saban was totally over the Oz the Mentalist stuff until McAfee lost it with the cards,” one fan commented on X. “Nick Saban just looked so unamused when Oz The Mentalist did one of his tricks to him on GameDay,” responded another.
Saban eventually got into the spirit as Oz continued, enjoying a laugh with the panel following the big reveal of Oz’s CFB predictions. Saban is currently in his first season out of football since the 1970s. The legendary coach announced his retirement this January following Alabama’s loss to Michigan in the College Football Playoffs.
He enjoyed a historic amount of success in his stint with the Crimson Tide between 2007 and 2023, claiming six National Championships and nine SEC conference crowns. Saban appeared on ‘The Pat McAfee’ show throughout the 2023 college football season, perhaps teasing his television ambitions then unknown to many.
In 2024, ESPN hired him as a full-time analyst for the network’s popular show ‘College GameDay.’ While he announced his intentions to retire from coaching, many surmise Saban may eventually change his tune if the right offer comes along.
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