The Big 12 dunked on Nick Saban for suggesting Ole Miss would run the conference

It’s no surprise Nick Saban is putting in overtime to push the Southeastern Conference’s narrative that it deserves four teams in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

If his first allegiance is to Alabama, his second is to its conference. And life is even easier for him when he can prop up both at the same time. That doesn’t mean other conferences are going to just let him get away with it.

At least, the Big 12 wasn’t about to become a punching bag to Saban and the SEC. When the former coach suggested to Pat McAfee a three-loss Ole Miss team would have a significantly better record playing in the Big 12, the conference responded with a harsh dose of reality.

Undefeated in Hypothetical Games https://t.co/kVbkzmDnd5 pic.twitter.com/4lznb1zpXe

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) November 27, 2024

Say what you want about bowl games — and it sure seems the SEC only says anything about the ones it wins — but the conference is 8-11 against the Big 12 since 2020.

Saban’s argument also ignores the fact the team currently atop the SEC is a No. 3 Texas program that barely changed its roster from last season in the Big 12 save for the typical graduation/NFL Draft turnover.

It’s foolish to expect Saban won’t cape for the SEC, but no one has to take it as gospel, either.