Nick Saban and Bill Belichick have a lot in common.

Known as two of the greatest coaches in football history, Saban and Belichick have combined for 13 championships and more than 600 wins. But they also started their careers as power-conference coaches with blowout losses.

Belichick lost 48-14 to TCU in Chapel Hill to kick off the 2025 season and Saban was on the wrong side of a 50-10 rout against Nebraska in 1995.

“I know exactly how Bill feels, because I went through a very similar situation,” Saban said on ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of UNC’s road game at Charlotte on Saturday, Sept. 6 (7 p.m., ESPN+ ).

Referencing that loss to the Cornhuskers, Saban relayed a message he received from Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, who told Saban after that game, “You’re not as bad as you think.” Saba

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