The Alabama Crimson Tide will take on the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, going up against the No. 1 team in the country and sitting as a touchdown underdog.

Just looking at the logos though and considering the history of each program, it would be easy for Alabama fans who may not watch much of the sport outside of the SEC to think the Crimson Tide should be the ones who are favored here.

This Indiana team is the Vegas pick for a reason, and if Alabama fans needed a reminder, former head coach Nick Saban issued a stern warning to fans who are taking the Hoosiers lightly.

During a Tuesday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Saban offered praise to Indiana and Curt Cignetti, sharing his belief that the Hoosiers are not getting enough respect.

He even shared a story about his golfing buddies — who of course are Alabama fans — and having to tell them that they should not be seeing this game as an easy victory.

“You know, the guys I play golf with, we’re on the first tee, and the guy looks at me and says, you know, ‘we should be able to beat Indiana. That should be a win for us.’ And I said, ‘What are you talking about? Indiana’s got a really good team,’” Saban said.

“He says, ‘I just can’t get around my head that it’s football, that they’re really good in basketball, but not in football.’ I said, ‘You better get it in your head, because they’ve been good last year and they’re really good this year.’ I said ‘Did you watch them beat Ohio State and how physical they play?’

“So to your point, I think in the outside world away from Indiana, people still don’t have the proper respect for Indiana. Now I’m not saying that’s true for Alabama’s football team, I know their coaches have respect, and I know the players have respect, and I know they know it’s going to be very, very challenging matchup for them,” Saban continued.

“But I’m just saying from a fan perspective, because, you know, fans look at the game, you know, from a technical standpoint, like the greatest human and Indiana is a damn good team. And I just think on a national level, people still don’t see them as a great team that they are.”

It’s hard to say many fans are taking this one lightly with the spread so far in the favor of Indiana, but for any Alabama fan who assumed it was going to be easy for the Tide, perhaps a warning from the GOAT will change their mind.