Tennessee football vs. Alabama: 10 keys for Vols and Crimson Tide

9. Jeremy Pruitt’s and Nick Saban’s familiarity with each other and their programs

Nick Saban has coached against Tennessee football 14 times in his career, and he’s 13-1 while winning the last 11. Meanwhile, Jeremy Pruitt is one of his proteges, and he’s one of his longest -serving ones. The guy’s experience at the college level bleeds Saban.

Pruitt wore numerous hats under Saban, spending three years as director of player development under him, three as defensive backs coach and two as defensive coordinator. In his three years away from the program, one of them was under a Nick Saban disciple, Jimbo Fisher. Only in his two years with Mark Richt could he have picked up anything that Saban’s hands weren’t on.

So almost anything Pruitt could possibly bring to the table, Saban’s seen. And he would be doing it at a program that Saban owns on a regular basis. Simply put, these are things that work against Pruitt and his staff. Add in Saban’s undefeated record against his assistants, and he clearly has a major advantage.

But there are some things working in Pruitt’s favor as well. Remember, no coach who has gone up against this elite offense led by Tua Tagovailoa is as familiar with it as Pruitt. He’s the only coach who led practices against it all last year. And he was in the national championship game in which Saban switched out Jalen Hurts for Tagovailoa.

This is a huge deal. Pruitt will be fully prepared for Saban’s tendencies and when he wants to switch Hurts and Tagovailoa. He’s also very familiar working with Mike Locksley, so none of this will be new to him. Simply put, if any head coach is to know a secret to stop this offense, it’s Pruitt, and that’s the good news for Tennessee football.