Nick Saban reveals the blunt advice he gave Pete Golding before taking over Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss job

Pete Golding had a word with Nick Saban before taking over the Ole Miss head coach job. The seven-time national champion spoke about the blunt advice he gave Golding.

"Pete Golding, you know, (he's a) first-time head coach, when I was a first-time head coach like at Michigan State. When you run out of the tunnel, you think everybody is looking at you and judging you." "You know, Pete's been texting me, and I say, Pete, just focus on what you have to do to coach your team. Focus on what's happening on the field. That's going to be the most important thing for you to help your players be successful and for your team to play well, and then get judged after that. Don't worry about what people are thinking of you," said Saban on ESPN College GameDay.

Nick Saban is one of the most respected voices in college football after his immense success at LSU and Alabama. Numerous coaches have asked his advice ahead of taking on new roles, including but not limited to Pete Golding, Steve Sarkisian, and Lane Kiffin.

Golding took over from Kiffin after he accepted the LSU Tigers job just before the college football playoffs. He'll now be tasked with potentially leading the Ole Miss Rebels to a national championship.

Pete Golding's Ole Miss up against Georgia in CFP quarterfinals

Pete Golding's Ole Miss Rebels beat the Tulane Green Wave in the first round of the playoffs. The win secured a quarterfinal date with Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs.

The Georgia Bulldogs are perennial national championship contenders under Kirby Smart. They secured a first-round bye after winning the SEC Championship Game. So, they waited for the winner of the Ole Miss vs. Tulane game.

The Bulldogs are 12-1 for the season. Notable wins include the Tennessee Volunteers, Ole Miss Rebels, Florida Gators, Texas Longhorns, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and Alabama Crimson Tide. Their sole loss this season was against archrivals, the Crimson Tide.

Golding's team must bring its A-game if it's to proceed to the next stage of the playoffs. With that being said, here's how to watch the game:

• Date: Thursday, January 1, 2026
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• Venue: Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
• Livestream: FuboTV and DAZN
• TV Channel: ESPN

Edited by Nick Igbokwe