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Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban made headlines this week after questioning Texas A&M’s home-field advantage just days before the Aggies play in their first-ever College Football Playoff game.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday, Saban claimed Texas A&M uses artificial crowd noise during home games at Kyle Field. He said the added noise makes it harder for visiting teams to communicate and gives the Aggies’ defense a clear advantage, especially when opponents are trying to snap the ball.
“I complained to the SEC office about it,” Saban said. “It’s the noisiest place, plus they pipe in noise. You can’t hear yourself think when you play there. That makes it really hard for the offense.”
"Kyle Field is the noisiest place plus the pipe in noise 😂😂
I guarantee it 😂😂
You can't hear yourself think out there and Texas A&M playing at home is a huge advantage"
Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/yWkzhudiKz
Saban coached Alabama for 17 seasons and played at Kyle Field six times during that stretch, giving his comments extra attention. The timing of his remarks also raised eyebrows, as Texas A&M is preparing to host Miami this weekend in the first round of the College Football Playoff. For a program making its CFP debut, the comments sounded like a direct shot just days before a major moment.
Saban isn’t the only one to make the accusation. Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who played under Saban as a freshman at Alabama in 2023, made a similar claim earlier this season. Downs suggested that Texas A&M also uses artificial noise, which added fuel to the discussion and made Saban’s comments harder to ignore.
Still, many fans and analysts argue that Texas A&M doesn’t need any extra help being loud. Kyle Field holds more than 102,000 fans, making it one of the largest stadiums in college football. The Aggies’ fan base, known as the “12th Man,” is famous for its passion and ability to create one of the loudest and most intimidating environments in the sport.
Under NCAA rules, artificial crowd noise during live play is not allowed. However, proving that a team is breaking that rule can be difficult. Over the years, several programs across the country have faced similar accusations without facing punishment, mainly because it is hard to show clear evidence.
Whether the noise inside Kyle Field is natural or not, one thing is certain: it will be extremely loud on Saturday. With a College Football Playoff spot on the line and the nation watching, Texas A&M will count on its home crowd to set the tone as it looks to make a strong first impression on college football’s biggest stage.
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