It may be Halloween, but, in the state of Alabama, it is also known by another name: Nick Saban’s birthday.

The Alabama Crimson Tide took a minute during its preparation for an SEC West cash with LSU on Saturday to sing to the Alabama coach, who turned 72 on Tuesday.

Saban was all smiles when he entered the meeting room. A cake with a lit candle was awaiting the coach, who blew out the candle before getting serenaded by his players.

Last week, during Saban’s weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” McAfee said Saban’s “next trip around the sun” will be his best yet. That’s when Saban, with his self-deprecating humor that McAfee appears to be able to bring out in him, shined.

“I hope so, but if you ask my mom, I still think after all these years she doesn’t know if she got a trick or a treat.”

The eighth-ranked Crimson Tide (7-1, 5-0), which already has a win over fellow contender No. 11 Ole Miss, can strengthen their hold on the division with a victory.

No. 13 LSU (6-2, 4-1) still would need to close with wins over Florida and Texas A&M, along with a Rebels loss. The Tigers have losses to No. 4 Florida State and Ole Miss in which their defense allowed a combined 100 points. Alabama fell to No. 7 Texas, though its offense has progressed since then.

The winner of this game has gone on to play in the SEC championship game 10 times in the last 12 seasons. There’s good reason to expect one of these teams to make it to Atlanta again.

The Tide looks to avenge last year’s 32-31 overtime game that helped launch LSU to an SEC title showdown with eventual national champion Georgia in Atlanta.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.