Alabama-LSU Postgame Notebook

Saban Superlatives

Head coach Nick Saban owns a 64-29-1 (.697) mark in road games across his four career stops, including a 36-6 (.857) mark while at Alabama. Saban has notched five perfect road seasons (2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015) and has lost more than one game on the road in only two seasons (2007, 2010). Alabama has won 23 of its last 25 road games dating back to the start of the 2011 season and is riding a 10-game road winning streak.

Saban owns a 46-14 (.767) mark in SEC road games across his time at LSU and Alabama, including a 34-6 (.850) mark with the Crimson Tide. Saban has notched six perfect SEC road seasons (2003, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2015). Saban owns a 101-26 (.795) career record in 127 games against SEC opponents. While at Alabama, he has compiled a 71-13 (.845) record versus conference foes, and is outscoring opponents by a staggering 3,319-1,297, or 39.5-15.4 points per game. Of his 13 losses against SEC opponents while at Alabama, all but two (Florida, 2008 and South Carolina, 2010) have been by seven points or less. Saban’s first matchup with an SEC team came in the 1995 Independence Bowl against LSU, where his Michigan State Spartans fell, 45-26, to the Tigers. He would later go on to coach LSU to 30-12 overall record against conference opponents.

Alabama’s 10-0 win over No. 15 LSU gives head coach Nick Saban 69 career wins vs. Associated Press Top 25 teams, good for third all-time. Former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno leads the list with 86, four victories ahead of Florida State’s Bobby Bowden (82). Paul “Bear” Bryant is fourth at 66. Recently retired Duke, Florida and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is fifth at 64. Saban’s winning percentage against AP ranked teams (69-37, .651) tops Bryant (.592), Bowden (.557), Spurrier (.529) and Paterno (.512).

Saban is quickly moving up the charts for victories in SEC regular-season games against conference opponents with 100 following the win at LSU on Saturday night. His 100 wins moves him into sixth, passing Auburn’s Shug Jordan and Tennessee’s Phil Fulmer on the league’s list of conference wins. Each coach ahead of Saban on the list, except for recently retired South Carolina and Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Paul “Bear” Bryant tops the list with 159 conference wins at Kentucky (1946-53) and Alabama (1958-82). Spurrier is second with 131 league wins followed by Johnny Vaught (Ole Miss, 106), and Vince Dooley (Georgia, 105). Saban ranks first in league history in SEC regular season winning percentage at .794 (100-26). He is second in league history in winning percentage in all games at .822 (157-34). Saban is eighth on the SEC career wins list at 157. Tennessee’s Robert Neyland is seventh at 173.