Nick Saban tests positive for COVID-19, won’t coach Iron Bowl

Nick Saban had a false positive COVID-19 test earlier this season. This one isn’t false though and he won’t be on the sidelines for the Iron Bowl.

College football inside Brett McMurphy has broken the news that Alabama head coach Nick Saban has tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be able to coach in the Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn this weekend.

The report says that Saban is experiencing very mild symptoms which is somewhat encouraging news but certainly not ideal. According to the SEC’s guidelines, Saban will have to isolate for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms and must wait at least 24 hours after any fever ends (without the use of fever-reducing medication) before his isolation can end. That obviously means he won’t be on the sidelines for this Saturday’s Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn.

Can Alabama stay unbeaten without Nick Saban on the sidelines?

This matchup with Auburn has huge implications, both for Alabama’s title hopes and for their burning desire for revenge. Last season’s Iron Bowl loss to Auburn was what pushed them out of the College Football Playoff for the first time ever. Auburn is currently 5-2 and ranked No. 22 in the latest AP poll. Alabama is one of a number of remaining unbeaten teams, holding the No. 1 spot in the country.

Alabama can certainly win without Saban and their talent gives them a significant edge on Auburn. But Saban’s absence introduces another uncertain variable in a legacy matchup, one that carries the weight of history and won’t be decided on talent alone. Alabama still has to like their chances but they’d like them a lot better if they knew their head coach was going to be healthy for this game, and for the ones that come after it.