Legendary college football coach Nick Saban recently revealed that if he were starting his career today, he would prefer coaching in the NFL over college football due to the rapidly changing dynamics of the collegiate game.
Speaking on The Pivot Podcast, the 73-year-old Alabama coach cited the impact of NIL policies and the transfer portal as pivotal changes that have altered the landscape of college athletics.
“It was…I love coaching pro ball,” Saban said. “I mean, and if I was going to coach today based on circumstances in college and in the NFL, I would coach in the NFL because all those things in college have changed.
“The whole idea of what college used to be is not there anymore. I mean, it used to be you went to college to develop value for your future. Now, people are going to college to see how much money they can make.”
Saban acknowledged that while there’s nothing inherently wrong with this shift, it marks a significant departure from the core principles that once defined college athletics.
“I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but you change the whole dynamic of the importance of getting an education, making good decisions and choices about what you do and what you don’t do to create value for your future,”Saban continued.
“You change that whole dynamic and the idea that these guys are free agents twice a year and they can just go wherever they want.”
Saban’s comments reflect the sweeping changes that have redefined college sports since the NCAA implemented NIL policies in 2021, allowing student-athletes to profit from endorsements.
Coupled with the transfer portal, which enables athletes to move schools without sitting out a year, the collegiate sports world has seen an unprecedented shift in player movement and financial incentives.
Initially limited to one-time transfers, the portal’s rules have since relaxed, allowing multiple transfers without penalty.
These developments have created a new reality for coaches, who must navigate the ever-present challenges of player retention and recruitment in a landscape increasingly driven by financial considerations.
Saban’s frustration with the changing dynamics of college football has been evident in recent years.
Last March, ESPN’s Chris Low reported that Saban spoke candidly with Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne after the 2022 season about the mounting challenges.
“Greg, this is getting more and more difficult on me,” Saban told Byrne at the time. “I’m not ready to do it now, but we’re going to have to start evaluating this more on a year-to-year basis.”
Sure enough, just one year later Saban was officially gone.
“I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I’m going to play because they’re thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?” Saban said.
“Our program here was always built on how much value can we create for your future and your personal development, academic success in graduating and developing an NFL career on the field.
“So I’m saying to myself, ‘Maybe this doesn’t work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it’s all about how much money can I make as a college player?’
“I’m not saying that’s bad. I’m not saying it’s wrong, I’m just saying that’s never been what we were all about, and it’s not why we had success through the years.”
Saban left behind a remarkable legacy, including a collegiate coaching record of 292-71-1 with stops at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU, and Alabama.
His six national titles at Alabama, combined with another at LSU, cemented his status as the greatest coach in college football history.
While Saban briefly dipped into the NFL as the Miami Dolphins’ head coach from 2005-2006 and served as the Cleveland Browns’ defensive coordinator under Bill Belichick in the early 1990s, his dominance at the college level defined his career.
Of course, Saban is far from the only respected figure who has expressed great concern over the damaging impact that the current system is doing to the sport.
What are your thoughts on his comments? … In the big picture, what changes need to be made to prevent college football from completely going off the rails???
