Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban had a successful debut season as a panelist on ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
Many believe that Saban was brought in to replace longtime host Lee Corso, who ESPN announced was retiring from his nearly four-decade-long run on the show next season.
And while it’s unlikely Saban or anyone else will replace Corso’s iconic headgear picks, “College GameDay” did give the seven-time national championship-winning coach plenty of air time last season as Corso was seemingly phased out.
But for as popular as Saban is on “College GameDay,” his run as a host of the show could be somewhat limited, according to a report from former Alabama quarterback-turned college football analyst Greg McElroy.
During Monday’s episode of “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning,” McElroy revealed someone close to Saban speculated the 73-year-old could leave the “CGD” desk and return to the sidelines for another coaching job.
“This is a little bit out of left field, but the question was asked of me…a very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around and just really, really admire,” McElroy said.
“They seem to think Nick Saban’s not done coaching. I had a similar reaction. He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again. … Look, if it wasn’t someone notable, I’d never say a word.”
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While the report is purely speculative at this point, Saban unretiring to get back into coaching wouldn’t be a complete shock.
However, ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum doesn’t believe the report has any merit, regardless of who it was that was spit-balling with McElroy.
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“I ran into somebody the other day who spends time with Saban in Florida—you can imagine where—and said that he is literally having the time of his life,” Finebaum added. “… He had a better situation at Alabama the day he left than anywhere he goes, let’s say it’s next year.
“Now, I don’t know whether it’s college or pros. Could he be talked into something in the NFL? I don’t know how, because I don’t know that itch burns anymore, either. But my opinion is Nick Saban is done in coaching.”
Saban last coached in 2023 when he lead Alabama to a 12-2 record and a Rose Bowl loss to the Michigan Wolverines. He had a 201-29 record with six national titles and eight College Football Playoff appearances.
He was replaced last season by Kalen DeBoer, who led the Crimson Tide to a 9-4 record and a ReliaQuest Bowl loss to Michigan.
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