Texas A&M upsets Alabama: Jimbo Fisher becomes first former Nick Saban assistant to beat legendary coach

Texas A&M upset No. 1 Alabama 41-38 on Saturday night on a last-second field goal from Seth Small, launching Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher into the record book as the first former assistant of Nick Saban’s to beat the legendary Crimson Tide coach. Fisher served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Saban’s LSU staff from 2000-04. 

“I have great respect for him. I always say that. He is one of the best who ever did it,” Saban said on the CBS broadcast after the loss to Texas A&M. “I learned a lot when I coached from him, and we had a lot of good times.”

Saban came into Saturday’s game with a sterling 24-0 record against his proteges, including a 4-0 mark against Fisher. That streak included three wins over Georgia coach Kirby Smart, two of which were in dramatic fashion in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship and the 2018 SEC Championship Game the following season. 

Here’s a look at the all-time record of Saban’s assistants vs. their former boss:

Fisher’s win was a poetic result in a way. The Aggies coach was adamant that he would beat the Tide at some point during Saban’s tenure in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, when he met with the Houston TD Club in May.

“We’re going to beat his ass when he’s there,” he said in audio obtained by the Houston Chronicle.

Saban responded the next day and didn’t seem to worry all that much about Fisher. “In golf,” he said with a sly laugh. “I’m sure there will come a day. In football? Is that what he’s talking about?”

It certainly felt like Fisher could deliver on that promise this season when the Aggies, picked second in the SEC West, started in the preseason top 10. However, losses to Arkansas and Mississippi State essentially eliminated the possibility of Texas A&M living up to its preseason expectation.

Those disappointments are distant memories after Saturday’s stunning upset.