NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 01: Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide looks on in the first half against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the All State Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 1, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Nick Saban shows ultimate respect to the team he believes will start next season No. 1

Nick Saban is really pushing this one here.

The Southeastern Conference is holding its annual spring meetings this week in Destin, Florida, and the conference's football coaches addressed the media on Tuesday.

Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about his team's season-opening matchup against Florida State, and he said he thinks the Seminoles will be the No. 1 team in college football to start the 2017 season.

Related: Nick Saban hammers NCAA rule change: "Sometimes we take a sledgehammer to kill a fly" 

Alabama and Florida State square off in the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Saturday, Sept. 2. While Saban thinks the Seminoles will be No. 1, it's far more likely that Alabama will be the top team entering next season.

The Crimson Tide lost several defensive starters, but they return a plethora of talent from last year's team, which lost in the national title game to Clemson on a last-second play.

Alabama is loaded with talent on offense, including quarterback Jalen Hurts, the reigning SEC Offensive Player of the Year. The Tide also return running backs Bo Scarbrough and Damien Harris, as well as receiver Calvin Ridley.

The matchup between the Crimson Tide and the Seminoles could very well possibly be No. 1 vs. No. 2. Alabama will likely be the top team, and Florida State will enter the season right behind them before the big showdown in Atlanta.