Saturday’s game between Alabama and Georgia will be the first in which Nick Saban is not Alabama’s coach since 2003. To put that in perspective, this was a year before Kirby Smart started working with Saban at LSU.

However, his presence still dominates the game, especially when it comes to Smart. Given their connection — Smart worked with Saban for 11 years at three different stops — the Smart-Saban storylines will dominate Saturday’s game.

But Smart took the time to play it down, especially because Saban will likely still attend the game in his role on ESPN College GameDay.

“I feel like he’s still around, so I don’t really see it as a shadow,” Smart told ESPN’s Chris Low. “He announces. He’s still there. He’s still trying to fix things in our game, with Congress or whoever. He’s not going anywhere. This guy loves it and will be around for a long time. The game is better with him. I just have so much respect for him.

“He just doesn’t train anymore and I don’t get a chance to beat him anymore.”

Like most programs, Saban dominated Georgia during his time in Athens. Under Saban, Alabama was 8-2 against Georgia. Smart has achieved five of these victories, including the last meeting in December.

Saban retired in January and this Alabama team that Georgia will face on Saturday will look very different. It’s a completely new coaching staff led by Kalen DeBoer. Smart even hired one of Saban’s former assistants: Travaris Robinson, now Georgia’s safeties coach and co-defensive coordinator.

Saturday is Smart’s first game against Alabama without facing Saban. It will be a great opportunity for Smart to change one of the few negative narratives about him, as he is 1-5 in his career against Alabama. Another loss and it goes from Smart with a Saban problem to Smart with an Alabama problem.

Smart still has great admiration for his former boss. That was clear when Smart was asked about Saban since he retired from coaching.

“He is extremely thorough and enjoys what he does,” Smart said earlier this week. “I’m thrilled that he’s getting the opportunity to do what he wants to do and be with who he wants to be with in his family and enjoy that. I’m really glad he’s still a part of college football because he makes college football better.”

Saban is now working with ESPN’s College GameDay, which will be on site Saturday to preview the game. Saban made headlines this offseason when he picked Georgia and Texas over Alabama for the SEC Championship. Saban later admitted that this was intended to give his former team a little motivation.

We’ll see who Saban picks on Saturday as College GameDay begins at 9 a.m. ET in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Smart and the Bulldogs will take center stage on Saturday night, with the game set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Georgia football is ready to beat Alabama on Saturday