Herbstreit Sees Saban as College Football's Savior

ESPN analyst believes retired Alabama coach could provide much-needed leadership for the sport

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit believes that retired Alabama coach Nick Saban could be the savior college football needs. Herbstreit criticized the current leadership structure, saying the sport is still being "legislated as if it were the 1980s" and that no one is looking at what's best for the entire country. Herbstreit thinks Saban, with his college football expertise and influence, could provide the leadership the sport desperately needs as it continues to evolve.

Why it matters

Saban's potential involvement as a leader in college football could have major implications for the sport, especially for programs like Oregon that have been vocal about the need for reforms. Saban's methodical, detail-oriented approach and reputation for pragmatic decision-making could help address issues like the sport's calendar, the transfer portal, and coaching changes that have been problematic in recent years.

The details

Herbstreit believes the adoption of the 12-team College Football Playoff has made it clear that the sport needs a single authority figure, rather than conference commissioners focused on their own regions and constituents. Herbstreit thinks Saban, with his college football expertise and influence, could be the right person to take on that role, as Saban "cares about the players" and "cares about the sport." Oregon coach Dan Lanning has worked under Saban in the past and maintains a close relationship with him, often seeking Saban's advice on various issues.

  • In 2025, Nick Saban was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach.

The players

Nick Saban

A former college football head coach who won seven national championships, the most in college football history. He is now retired from coaching and has become a fan-favorite analyst on ESPN's College GameDay.

Dan Lanning

The current head coach of the Oregon Ducks football team. He previously worked as a graduate assistant under Saban at Alabama in 2015, and the two have maintained a close relationship, with Lanning often seeking Saban's advice.

Kirk Herbstreit

An ESPN college football analyst who has been critical of the current leadership structure in the sport, and believes Saban could provide the necessary guidance as the sport continues to evolve.

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What they’re saying

“I think right now, we're still legislating the sport as if it were the 1980s. Now it's all about the CFP. And yet, we're governing this sport with conference commissioners who are worried about their own regions and their own constituents. No one's looking at the entire country and saying, 'What's best for college football?'”

— Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN Analyst (The Dan Patrick Show)

“My only hope is Nick Saban, truly. People can say he's got an Alabama twist. But if you really know Nick Saban, he's got a college football twist. He cares about the players. He cares about the sport... He's got a lot of people's ears, and I really think he has good intentions.”

— Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN Analyst (The Dan Patrick Show)

“I actually visited with Coach (Saban) just the other day. More than anything, I bounce a lot of thoughts off of him and see if he has any insight because this guy has a ton of experience. He's the best coach to ever do it.”

— Dan Lanning, Oregon Ducks Head Coach (Oregon Ducks on SI)

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether Nick Saban would be interested in taking on a leadership role in college football, but Herbstreit's comments suggest that his involvement could be a game-changer for the sport.

The takeaway

Saban's potential involvement as a leader in college football could bring much-needed structure and consistency to the sport, addressing issues that have been problematic in recent years. His close relationship with Oregon coach Dan Lanning and his reputation for pragmatic decision-making could be particularly beneficial for programs like the Ducks that have been vocal about the need for reform.