Paul Finebaum was in mid-season form Monday.

Not long before the start of SEC media days in Nashville, the SEC Network analyst joined ESPN’s “First Take” and pointed out Alabama coach Nick Saban’s legacy could be perceived differently if his Crimson Tide doesn’t make the College Football Playoff this season.

“Nothing is going to take away what he’s accomplished,” Finebaum said. “And for those who don’t follow this closely, he’s won 6 national championships at Alabama since arriving in 2007, he won another one at LSU. But if he is in the same league as somebody who at the end of this season won 3, that’s a big hit on his legacy.”

That, of course, is a reference to Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who has won back-to-back national championships.

Couple Georgia’s success with Alabama’s issues last year, the pressure could be on. This year, Alabama is without the best player on offense (Bryce Young) and on defense (Will Anderson). The Tide has two new coordinators and a new starting quarterback.

“The defense let him down,” Finebaum said of last year. “There were mental lapses across the board, they had 17 penalties in the Texas game, I think they had just as many against Tennessee.”

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.