Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes were not the most excitable guest pickers in College Gameday history, but the first couple of LSU did manage to sneak in a (not-so) subtle shot at Nick Saban. Livvy took aim at the greatest head coach in college football history, which got him all riled up.
To make the hilarious exchange even more unusual, it had to do with a bowl-eligible Vanderbilt program.
Not one of those three sentences would make any sense if you tried to explain them to someone just five years ago. Nick Saban, Olivia Dunne and Paul Skenes discussing the Commodores while live on ESPN is a truly wild representation of the times in which we are living.
This whole thing started on the Pat McAfee Show back in September when Saban made a comment about the raucous environment at Vanderbilt home games. Or, rather, a lack thereof.
He said Nashville is the only place in the SEC where it is not difficult to play.
Nick Saban two weeks ago:
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 5, 2024
“The only place you play in the SEC that’s not hard to play is Vanderbilt”
(via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/N1SLMOf5Er
Vanderbilt immediately threw Saban’s comment right back in his face after it beat Alabama at home just two weeks later and trolled him on the scoreboard. The Dores did not show any mercy.
Fast forward to Saturday when College Gameday was in The Boot for the Bayou Bengals’ game against the Crimson Tide. Dunne and Skenes were the co-guest pickers.
Wheels Up brought LSU National Champions @livvydunne and @Paul_Skenes back to Death Valley to make their picks 🐯 pic.twitter.com/r742gtU4RF
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 9, 2024
The former, of course, was a big hit among the young fellas in attendance.
"Mr. (Paul) Skenes may come high and tight in there if that kid makes a move." #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/DD0ny8HdkJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 9, 2024
When it came time to pick a winner between Vanderbilt and South Carolina, LSU’s superstar gymnast slipped in a jab at Saban while picking the home team to win in Music City.
‘Someone once said that Vanderbilt was the easiest place to play in the SEC… But not today!
I’m going with Vanderbilt.
— Olivia Dunne
Needless to say, Dunne did her research. She came prepared!
That presented Saban with an opportunity to jab right back at the high-profile couple.
Skenes mentioned that they worked together on their picks, touting their “homework.” The legendary head coach sitting next to him took his opportunity and ran with it.
Paul, is this the first homework you’ve done at LSU?
— Nick SabanPOW POW! GOT HEEM!
Nick Saban has been awesome on College Gameday thus far. For him to take a direct shot from Olivia Dunne and respond with diss at Paul Skenes is incredible. It might be his best moment.