Olivia Dunne brought the heat during ESPN’s College GameDay in Baton Rouge, delivering a zinger that had fans and panelists alike buzzing just ahead of the high-stakes LSU-Alabama SEC showdown. Both teams were tied at 6-2, so this was make-or-break for their college football playoff dreams. It was a real “do or die” situation, where one win could be the ticket to the playoff, while a loss could leave them high and dry, stuck in a standard bowl game. Despite all the pressure, LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne managed to steal the show with a quick-witted dig at Nick Saban, which left everyone talking.

Dunne, who was on the show as a guest picker with her boyfriend, MLB pitcher Paul Skenes, had the task of picking the Vanderbilt-South Carolina game. And that’s when she decided to throw some shade at Saban. She reminded the crowd of his infamous comments about Vanderbilt being the “easiest place to play” in the SEC.

Looking straight at Saban, she quipped, “Someone once said that Vanderbilt was the easiest place to play in the SEC, but not today. I’m going with Vanderbilt.” And bam, just like that, the tension was thicker than a brick, with everyone in the room sensing the underlying jab. Saban, seated three spots away, could only shrug it off, but you could tell that comment hit a nerve.

Olivia Dunne’s clapback at Nick Saban wasn’t just a throwaway comment—she really knew how to hit the nail on the head. She took a playful jab at Saban’s earlier remark on The Pat McAfee Show, where he downplayed Vanderbilt’s competitiveness, calling them the “easiest” team to play in the SEC. It was a clever dig, especially when you consider what happened just a few weeks ago: Vanderbilt shocked Alabama with a 40-35 victory, something that had never happened during Saban’s nearly two-decade reign.

As if the win itself wasn’t sweet enough, Olivia Dunne’s celebration took things to the next level when LSU’s dramatic victory over Alabama in 2022 resurfaced. That victory in Baton Rouge was a defining moment, with LSU taking control of the SEC West and ending Alabama’s five-game win streak in the stadium. Olivia didn’t let that moment slide by unnoticed. She posted a viral TikTok of herself dancing to Conner Smith’s “I Hate Alabama,” rocking a sleek black outfit, and the energy was absolutely electric.

Sure, if LSU had lost, her reaction might’ve been different, but why dwell on that? Olivia cranked up the tunes, danced her heart out, and gave us all a masterclass in how to celebrate a game-changing win. But it does make you wonder: why did Saban take a jab that would catch Olivia Dunne’s attention in the first place?

Olivia Dunne is more than just a gymnast

Earlier this year, Nick Saban stirred up some controversy on “The Pat McAfee Show” by describing Vanderbilt’s home-field atmosphere as the SEC’s least challenging, stating, “When you play at Vanderbilt, you have more fans there than they have… it’s the truth.” Though he clarified it wasn’t meant as a slight, his words didn’t sit well with Vanderbilt supporters. When Vanderbilt pulled off a shocking 40-35 victory over then-No. 1 Alabama at FirstBank Stadium, fans made sure to replay Saban’s comments on the stadium scoreboard—a bold nod to their underdog triumph.

A month later, Olivia Dunne kept Saban’s remark in fans’ memories when she appeared on ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of Vanderbilt’s matchup with South Carolina. While making her picks alongside her boyfriend, Paul Skenes, Dunne received an amusing shout-out from a young LSU fan who brought a sign reading, “I’m shooting my shot! Livvy, can I have a kiss? Sorry, Mr. Skenes.” The College GameDay hosts couldn’t resist applauding the young fan’s confidence, with one panelist calling him “smart” for the attempt. This playful moment shows Dunne’s massive influence as she returned to LSU for her fifth and final season.

Dunne’s decision to return for an additional year, announced on social media in July, follows her team’s landmark achievement. Last season, LSU gymnastics clinched its first-ever NCAA title, posting a stunning 198.225 to top California, Utah, and Florida at the championships in Fort Worth. With her NIL valuation soaring and an impressive collegiate career behind her, Dunne is closing out her time at LSU as one of the most prominent college athletes.