This is an opinion column.

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Sometimes in life it’s not the things people say that grab your attention. It’s the thing they don’t say that means most of all.

On Friday here in Los Angeles, Alabama defensive coordinator Kevin Steele was asked what he thought about Nick Saban’s future as the coach of Alabama. Steele is Saban’s longtime friend and he was brought back to Alabama this season to manage a defense that had gotten a little too sloppy. When given a chance, Steele didn’t say for certain that Saban was returning to Alabama. Instead, he said it’s something that no one can know.

“It’s always going to be out there,” Steele said. “It’s always going to be out there. I will tell you this: Nobody knows that answer except him.”

And, so, not for the first time over these last few months, I found myself wondering if Alabama will be in the market for a new coach following the College Football Playoff. No.4 Alabama (12-1) plays No.1 Michigan (13-0) on Monday in the Rose Bowl semifinal of the CFP. When Saban runs onto the field with his team, there will be plenty of people inside the Rose Bowl wondering if they’re about to witness the final game for the greatest college football coach of all time.

Like Saban’s top lieutenant said, only one person can really know.

It’s important to note that Saban has given no indication that he’s retiring or even thinking about it. Just this week, Saban landed another major commitment for the 2024 recruiting class. If Saban suddenly decides this is it, then that would fly in the face of everything he has said publicly about his future up to this point.

When asked about his retirement, Saban always says that he’ll coach as long as he’s giving Alabama the best chance of success. Taking him at his word, then it feels like Saban still has plenty of Oatmeal Creme Pies left to eat as the coach of Alabama. This season, we’ve witnessed arguably the best coaching performance of his entire career.

Alabama started the season with a stunning loss to Texas and an even more worrisome effort against South Florida. Saban then named Jalen Milroe the permanent starting quarterback. Since that moment, Milroe and Alabama have delivered one magical moment after another. Meanwhile, the defense has been the best in the SEC.

Every team is different. They don’t all develop at the same pace. Saban allowed this team to work through its early problems, and it was the right call. On the eve of the Rose Bowl, it now feels like Alabama is once again the favorite to win the national championship. Saban loves the spirit of this team and it shows.

The turning point came against Ole Miss. Rebels coach Lane Kiffin knew Alabama was vulnerable after the struggle victory against South Florida, and Kiffin tried his best to cause even more headaches for the Crimson Tide by calling an impromptu news conference on the Sunday before Alabama week. That’s when Kiffin said it was his opinion that Saban had taken some defensive coordinator duties away from Steele and given them to another coach, Travaris Robinson.

Everyone is the victim of gaslighting at some point. Kiffin fooled plenty of people leading into Alabama week — me included — but his trickster antics seemed to be the thing that galvanized Steele’s defense. From that point forward, Alabama’s defense looked like one of the toughest in the country.

On Friday, Steele set me straight on the subterfuge. I asked him point blank about Kiffin’s claims, and, according to Steele, no, Saban did not take play-calling responsibilities away from his defensive coordinator and hand them over to another assistant.

Steele’s eyes then cut into my soul. He stared me down for a few beats. It was long enough for me to know that he wanted me to know something else. This is what Steele’s molten glare said, “How stupid can you be? Is your brain made of mashed potatoes?”

After answering an unrelated question from another reporter, Steele decided to circle back and help me out. And, hey, I really appreciated it. Every little bit helps. Steele showed me the light.

“I’ll help you with one of your questions,” Steele said. “Who do you think the defensive coordinator at Alabama is? It ain’t but one person, and he has won seven national championships. As long as you know that, we’re good.”

Saban isn’t slowing down, in other words.

There have been plenty of whispers among Alabama fans that this might be the final season of Saban’s career. Some people are convinced that if Saban wins it all, then he’ll leave the stage as a national champion. At 72 years old, Saban is already the eldest head football coach in the history of the SEC. As a counterbalance to the rumors, let me just point out that Saban only seems to be getting better at his job.

Alabama’s head coach — and, apparently, its defensive coordinator, too — is two victories away from national championship number eight for his career. If he’s one loss away from retirement, then he’ll still be walking away at the top of his game.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the most controversial sports book ever written, “We Want Bama”. It’s a love story about wild times, togetherness and rum.