Nick Saban jokingly explains why he doesn’t trust former Tide S Caleb Downs

Nick Saban and the College GameDay crew set up shop in Columbus, Ohio this weekend in front of the No. 5 Indiana vs. No. 2 Ohio State. The Buckeyes look to dispatch the undefeated Hoosiers, who are looking to put a signature win on their College Football Playoff resume.

Ohio State’s defense is stellar, in part because of former Alabama safety Caleb Downs, who transferred from the Tide after Saban stepped down as head coach at the end of last season.

Downs is a great football player and, according to Saban, a high grader. But his former coach also admitted (jokingly) that he’s not so sure he can trust Downs.

Saban told the GameDay crew that when he would meet with players, he had a swearing jar that he would contribute $5 to if he swore. Downs was the holder of the cash — which reached $500 after Saban’s goal — and Saban still has no idea what happened to the pitcher at the end of the season.

Watch Saban’s comments on Downs below:

Nick Saban on @CollegeGameDay on Caleb Downs, joking: “I just don’t know if I can trust him. We had a rule last year because I didn’t want to argue in the meetings – I tried to be this ‘transformational’ leader and set a good example – so every time i cursed in a…

— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) November 23, 2024

We should have a good one in the B1G at Indiana and Ohio State have capable offensive units, but the Buckeyes crowd should provide an atmosphere Indiana simply hasn’t encountered this season.

Let’s see if Hoosiers is real.