TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama football coach Nick Saban will be back on the sideline against Georgia after all.
The Southeastern Conference cleared Saban on Saturday to coach in the game between undefeated league powers after he tested negative for COVID-19 three days in a row.
The move came hours ahead of Saturday night's game between Saban's second-ranked Crimson Tide and the No. 3 Bulldogs. Both are 3-0, and the game is considered a possible preview of the SEC title matchup later this season.
Saban had initially tested positive Wednesday, along with athletic director Greg Byrne. Team physician Jimmy Robinson said Saban was tested the next three mornings, and the initial result was deemed a false positive.
"Those three negative tests satisfied the SEC protocol for a false positive," Robinson said. "Out of an abundance of caution, two additional PCR tests were administered at the same time on Thursday and Friday and were tested by a separate lab. Those tests were also negative."
The initial positive came from an outside lab Alabama had used to supplement the testing mandated by the SEC.