Michigan's Biff Poggi Jokes He Learned to Pay Players from Nick Saban in GameDay Video

Michigan interim head coach Biff Poggi is enjoying his time in the spotlight, as evidenced by his rapport with Nick Saban on Saturday's episode of College Gameday.

After Saban joked that he never saw Poggi coach a down and was paying all of the players when he was a high school coach in Maryland, the 65-year-old joked that he "learned" all about paying players from watching Saban (starts at 8:15 mark).

Poggi did say within the same interview that Saban is the "greatest college football coach" for all-time, so he was able to get away with some playful teasing.

You can tell that Saban likes Poggi because he let him get away with a joke about paying players. The legendary coach hasn't always reacted well to that type of kidding if he isn't friends with someone.

For example, when comedian Shane Gillis joked about Alabama paying players on a Gameday episode last December prior to a College Football Playoff game between Indiana and Notre Dame, it didn't seem to sit well with Saban.

Gillis later said there was an intense off-camera interaction with Saban that required Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit to step in and calm Saban down.

Poggi is in his third stint working on the Wolverines coaching staff. He previously worked as an analyst in 2016 and associate head coach on Jim Harbaugh's staff from 2021 to '22 before being hired as Charlotte's head coach.

After a 6-16 record with the 49ers, Poggi was fired by the program in November 2024. He returned to Michigan as an associated head coach under Sherrone Moore.

With Moore serving a two-game suspension as part of the NCAA's discipline against Michigan stemming from the 2023 sign-stealing scandal, Poggi is filling in on an interim basis.

Poggi's first game in the main seat was a 63-3 win over Central Michigan last week. He will lead the Wolverines again on Saturday when they take on Nebraska at Memorial Stadium.