As Dabo Swinney melted down to the officials on the opposite sideline, ESPN cameras caught a rare, wry smile from Nick Saban who knew his team just pulled a fast one on the Tigers and ultimately clinch his fourth national title as the Crimson Tide head coach, his first of the CFP era.

Booker spent two years playing for the college football icon, and it’s clear Saban left a strong impression on the young lineman.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/fannation/name-image-likeness as Nick Saban names the 'top-end' college football teams in the SEC for 2025. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban is sold on the potential of five SEC programs as "top-end" teams ahead of the 2025 college football season.