Put that Nittany Lion costume back on, coach.

Legendary former college football coach and current ESPN analyst Nick Saban threw his support behind Penn State football during The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, saying he was “a believer” in the Nittany Lions after the opening two rounds of the College Football Playoff.

Nick Saban is 10000% in on this Penn State team #WeAre pic.twitter.com/PyqoznmpEY

— Cameron Panase (@Panase31) January 2, 2025

Saban cited Penn State’s work against SMU in the first round of the playoff and against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. While the former coach acknowledged that the Nittany Lions faced lower competition than much of the playoff field, he said Penn State was playing well enough to compete for a title.

“I know Penn State hasn’t played the same level of competition in two games, although those teams are very good. [But] their offense line and those two running backs they have? These guys have been able to run the ball effectively in the last few games very impressively,” Saban said.

Saban also gave a nod to Drew Allar and Penn State’s defense in his monologue.

“And then, to have a quarterback that can play behind the running game like that with play-action passes and staying out of long-yardage situations, I think they’re for real,” Saban said. “And their defense is playing well, too.”

Now, Saban said, Penn State has a chance to earn its first claimed national title since 1986.

“So if you just go on how well teams are playing right now, Penn State and Ohio State are probably playing the best,” Saban said. “That doesn’t mean they’re necessarily going to win. That doesn’t mean Penn State’s going to win. But I do think they’re playing extremely well.

“The quarterback’s playing well. They can run the ball well…But I think Penn State is playing well on both sides of the ball, and I think they’re a very good team.

“I’m a believer. I wasn’t a believer in Penn State early on. I’m a believer right now.”