Nick Saban admits no coach has had to deal with what Kirby Smart and Marcus Freeman going through.

Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs and Freeman’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish meet Thursday in the CFP quarterfinal game at the New Orleans’ Sugar Bowl, 20 hours later than anticipated.

Due to the New Year’s Eve terrorist attack, the game – scheduled for Wednesday – was postponed until Thursday at 3 p.m.

“It reminds me of way back when we got a call on March 13,” Saban said during his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday. “We were in our first day of spring practice, and they said school is closed. COVID is in. Season might be off.

“In the team meeting, the first thing I said to the players was, ‘Whoever handles this disruption the best, is going to have the best chance to be successful.’”

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Both teams were confined to the team hotel but had walk-throughs Wednesday.

“I don’t think anybody has any experience handling a situation like this because it involves so much public safety,” Saban added. “How we gonna make the place safe, so we can play and postponing the game. But I do think that same concept works here. Whichever coaching staff can handle this disruption the best with the players and keep them focused on what they need to do and not be concerned with when we are playing, what time we’re playing. It’s in the day. It’s in the night. If it’s in the parking lot.”

The mindset worked for Saban during COVID. His Alabama won the national title.

“I used to tell the players the field is 53 yards wide and 100 yards deep, so no matter where we play that’s the way it’s going to be, and, no matter when we play, that’s the way it’s going to be.

“So, let’s stay focused on what happens when we step into the rectangle and see what happens.”

The former Alabama coach also shared that was the year, “We got turned into the NCAA by 52 teams.”

That was the season each player was issued an Apple Watch.

The watches were a part of how Alabama was helping players stay in shape and stay healthy while unable to be on campus during the pandemic.

It raised eyebrows.

“The SEC is aware that Alabama provided Apple watches to some of our student-athletes,” Alabama senior associate athletic director for compliance Matt Self said back in 2020. “We are in constant communication with the SEC discussing the appropriate manner in which to utilize these and any other resources to provide for the health and well-being of our student-athletes during this crisis.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.