Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher feud: Revisiting the offseason tensions between Alabama, Texas A&M coaches

Bill Bender

Nick Saban vs. Jimbo Fisher feud: Revisiting the offseason tensions between Alabama, Texas A&M coaches image

The Nick Saban-Jimbo Fisher spat was the viral highlight of the 2022 college football offseason. 

We love a good coaching feud, and that will be revisited when No. 1 Alabama (5-0) takes on Texas A&M (3-2) at 8 p.m. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. This game has been circled on the calendar since Saban attended a fundraiser on May 18, and that feud is tied to the new world of recruiting in the NIL era. 

Will that rekindle on Saturday night? A closer look at the roots of that beef that boiled over last summer: 

Aggies beat Tide in 2021

Fisher was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Saban at LSU from 2000-04 – and there was never a hint of a feud when he took over at Texas A&M in 2018. Alabama won the three matchups from 2018-20 by an average of 23 points per game. 

MORE: Betting trends ahead of Texas A&M-Alabama grudge match

Texas A&M, however, turned the tables on Oct. 9, 2021. The Aggies beat No. 1 Alabama 41-38 on a last-second field goal by Seth Small. It marked the first time one of Saban's former assistants beat him on the field. 

The Aggies weren't done. Texas A&M then built the No. 1 recruiting class for 2022, according to 247Sports.com. Alabama, which had the No. 1 class in 2021, slipped to No. 2. 

Nick Saban said Texas A&M 'bought every player' 

Saban spoke at a fundraiser in Birmingham, Ala., on May 18, and he was addressing his concerns with recruiting in the NIL era. Saban was targeting collectives and their role in recruiting. He then fired a jab at Texas A&M and Jackson State. 

MORE: Latest on Bryce Young's injured shoulder

"I know the consequence is going to be difficult for the people who are spending tons of money to get players," Saban said via AL.com. "You read about it, you know who they are. We were second in recruiting last year. A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team. Made a deal for name, image and likeness." 

Jimbo Fisher called Saban a 'narcissist'

Fisher responded the following day with an impromptu press conference at Texas A&M. Fisher did not just defend Texas A&M’s recruiting practices in the 10-minute press conference. He unloaded on Saban and Alabama

Fisher took several shots at Saban and his coaching practices. Fisher called Saban a "narcissist" and said the shots were "despicable" several times. 

"It’s despicable that a reputable head coach would come out and say this when he doesn’t get his way or things don’t go his way," Fisher said. "The narcissist in him doesn’t allow those things to happen when he’s not on top." 

Fisher wasn’t done. He compared Saban to "God" and encouraged reporters to dig into Saban’s past. 

"We build him (Saban) up  to be the czar of football," Fisher said of Saban, who was his boss at LSU. "Go dig into his past or anybody that's ever coached with him. You can find out anything you want to find out what he does and how he does it. It's despicable."

Both coaches apologized (kind of)

Later that afternoon, Saban appeared on Sirius XM radio and apologized for naming Texas A&M in his comments. 

"I should’ve never really singled anybody out," Saban said. "That was a mistake, and I apologize for that part of it." 

Fisher also squashed that at the SEC Meetings in Destin, Fla., on June 1. 

"Things were said," Fisher said. "What he said. What we said. It moves on. We're moving on to the next thing." 

A&M heavy underdog against Alabama 

Fisher walked back his comments once more at his press conference on Monday ahead of the matchup with No. 1 Alabama. He said the relationship with Saban is in "good shape." 

As for the fallout from the beef? Alabama is a 23.5-point favorite against the Aggies, and the Crimson Tide have built the top-ranked recruiting class for 2023, according to 247Sports.com

Texas A&M lost to Appalachian State and Mississippi State and could fall to 3-3 with a loss. The Aggies are No. 18 in 247Sports.com’s team recruiting rankings, and Fisher’s seat is warming up given Texas A&M was ranked No. 6 in the Preseason AP Top 25. 

So, did Saban win the long game? Or will the Aggies start another cycle with a shocking upset on Saturday?

MORE: Picks against the spread for Week 6 Top 25 games | Bowl projections

Bill Bender

Bill Bender Photo

Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.