During his historic coaching career Nick Saban rarely shied away from the opportunity to share his thoughts on current topics surrounding college football.

Saban and the rest of ESPN’s “College GameDay” crew were in Indiana ahead of the opening game of the 12-team College Football Playoff between Notre Dame and the Hoosiers. While the high-stakes game was the main topic during the pregame show, embattled Ohio State coach Ryan Day was also discussed.

Saban defended Day and directed his ire at Buckeyes fans, suggesting they bear at least some of the blame for the cloud of negativity surrounding the program.

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Nick Saban sits at ESPN’s “College GameDay” before a game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania, on November 2, 2024. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)

Saban said the noise surrounding the program is a distraction for coaches and players and also made it clear that he respects Day and his program.

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“I think every coach has to define how they want to do it, and I have a lot of respect for Ryan Day and how he tried to do it,” Saban said. “I always wanted every player in the organization to reach their full potential. It wasn’t so much about the outcome, but about what you had to do to make everyone better.”

Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide before the College Football Playoff national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

“But a big part of it was protecting the players from external factors – criticism, the internet. I told the players all the time, ‘Why do you care what a guy who’s a fat guy in his underwear puts on the internet?’ In his mother’s basement? Why do you even care?

“It’s the same for the fans. I would say the same thing to the fans. If Ohio State wants to beat Michigan, they need to be positive about their coach and players. There is no one who wants to beat them more than the players and the coaches. That’s No. 1. No. 2, they have a chance to win the national championship. Everyone should support them fully so that they have the best opportunity to do this and end all this negative bullshit. -.”

Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day before a game against the Akron Zips at Ohio Stadium. (Joseph Maiorana/USA Today Sports)

While Day compiled a 66-10 record at Ohio State, his Buckeyes have lost four straight to the Michigan Wolverines.

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Day’s disappointing results against Michigan have drawn criticism and raised concerns about the coach’s job security. Day’s focus is on the Buckeyes’ upcoming game against Tennessee in the College Football Playoff. The Buckeyes host the Volunteers on Saturday.

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