Mike Gundy and Nick Saban are basically the same coach, right? The latter certainly thinks so!
Gundy has won 67.5% of his games in 18 years as the head football coach at Oklahoma State University. Saban has won 87.2% of his games in 17 years as the head football coach at the University of Alabama.
Their winning percentages are not quite comperable.
Saban has won 10 SEC titles between LSU and Alabama. Gundy has won just one Big 12 title.
Their conference championships are not quite comparable.
Saban has won six college football national championships. Gundy has not won a national championship.
Their national championships are not quite comparable.
Saban has reached the College Football Playoff six times since it first came to exist in 2014. Gundy has not reached the College Football Playoff.
Their semifinal appearances are not quite comperable.
~~~ HOWEVER ~~~
They have one big thing in common this season: their quarterbacks!
Neither the Cowboys nor the Crimson Tide have had any semblance of consistency at the most important position on the field in 2023. They both struggled to determine a starter during the first three weeks of the year.
Jalen Milroe started Week 1 and Week 2 for Alabama. He was benched for Week 3 while Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson got their opportunity to shine, and failed to do so. Milroe is now the starter again in Week 4 and moving forward.
At Oklahoma State, it’s even messier. Gunnar Gundy (Mike’s son), Alan Bowman and Garret Rangel have all played in all three games so far.
Bowman has attempted 52 passes. Gundy has attempted 34. Rangel has attempted 29.
Nick Saban and Mike Gundy have both played three quarterbacks.
Thus, they are the same.
Gundy spoke about their similarities during a hilarious press conference ahead of Week 4. The 56-year-old couldn’t even keep a straight face while saying that he is the same as Saban.
Both Oklahoma State and Alabama are 2-1 this year. Perhaps Gundy and Saban have more in common than we thought?