Nick Saban Hypes Chambliss as 'Most Dynamic Player,' Lacy as Best RB While Picking LSU vs. Ole Miss

Former Alabama head football coach Nick Saban heaped praise on Ole Miss prior to its massive home game against LSU on Saturday night.

Saban paid significant compliments to Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy, but still picked LSU to win, much to the dismay of guest picker Morgan Freeman on ESPN College GameDay .

"I think Trinidad Chambliss is the most dynamic player in college football," Saban said. "I think [Kewan Lacy] is the best running back in football. I love Pete Golding as a defensive coach, and I think he'll have them ready, but defense travels and LSU has the better defense, so I'm taking LSU."

While best known for coaching at Alabama for 17 seasons and winning six national championships, Saban was the head coach at LSU for five seasons before that and led the Tigers to the national title in 2003.

In addition to coaching at LSU, Saban worked extensively with current LSU head coach Lane Kiffin.

From 2014 to 2016, Kiffin was Saban's offensive coordinator at Alabama, and during that time the Crimson Tide went a combined 40-4.

Kiffin brought Chambliss and Lacy to Ole Miss, but when he took the LSU head coaching job at the end of the 2025 regular season, the Rebels decided to move on without him.

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach prior to the College Football Playoff, and he led the Rebels to the CFP semifinals.

Although Kiffin succeeded in bringing multiple players and coaches with him from Ole Miss to LSU, the Rebels managed to retain their two biggest stars in Chambliss and Lacy.

After starring at Division II Ferris State, Chambliss was a revelation at Ole Miss last season, completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and three interceptions to go along with 527 yards and eight scores on the ground.

Meanwhile, Lacy rushed for 1,567 yards and 24 touchdowns, the latter of which ranked him second among all FBS players and first among players in Power Four conferences.

Saturday night could be a challenge for Chambliss, Lacy and the Ole Miss offense and Kiffin and many of the LSU assistants are familiar with the type of offense they run.

At the same time, Golding is a defensive guru who is well aware of what Kiffin typically loves to do on offense as well.

No. 8 Ole Miss vs. No. 7 LSU figures to be a chess match, and it is fair to wonder if the advantage will ultimately rest with the Rebels due to the presence of elite offensive talents like Chambliss and Lacy.