TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Former Kent State teammates Nick Saban and Gary Pinkel will roam opposing sidelines

Saban leads No. 1 Alabama into Columbia, Mo., to face Pinkel's Missouri Tigers on Saturday. Pinkel was a star tight end for Kent State's 1972 Mid-American Conference championship team while Saban played defensive back.

For former Golden Flashes and Washington coach Don James, "it's like having two sons out there."

This collision course was set when Missouri joined the Southeastern Conference for this season.

The two coaches speak highly of one another, but Pinkel says they didn't hang out during their college days.

They're the coaching hotshots from a team that also included Hall of Fame linebacker Jack Lambert. They both worked as graduate assistants under James.

Pinkel succeeded Saban as Toledo's head coach in 1991.