Nick Saban has never been shy about speaking his mind, especially when it comes to the state of college football. And now, after stepping away from the sidelines, the seven-time national champion is offering something more than just commentary-he’s laying out a blueprint for the sport’s future.
During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Saban didn’t hold back. He believes college football is at a crossroads, and if something doesn’t change soon, the game could drift even further from what made it special in the first place.
His solution? A structural overhaul that starts at the highest levels of government and trickles down to the locker rooms.
“I got it figured out. Nobody will listen,” Saban said, half-joking, half-frustrated. But make no mistake-he’s serious about the fix.
The Antitrust Puzzle
At the core of Saban’s proposal is the idea of an antitrust exemption for college football. That’s a big ask, and it would require bipartisan cooperation in Washington-something that’s rare these days.
But Saban sees it as essential. Without it, he argues, there’s no way to set up a system that fairly regulates how players are compensated and represented without falling into legal quicksand.
Graduate Students: Paid, But Not Employees
Saban’s second point dives into the murky waters of player compensation. He draws a line between paying graduate students-like graduate assistants-and labeling them as employees.
To him, that distinction matters. If graduate players can receive payment without being classified as employees, it opens the door to a more flexible system-one that respects the academic mission of college sports while also acknowledging the real value these athletes bring to the table.
And he’s not against players having a voice either. In fact, he supports the idea of representation, even calling it a union if that’s what it ends up being. But he’s also clear: there need to be boundaries.
Drawing the Line on Negotiation
Saban’s vision includes limits on what players can and can’t negotiate. He gives a hypothetical-imagine a student saying their lab takes 10 hours, so they want to cut practice to six.
That’s a no-go in his book. The same logic applies to football.
Practice time and athletic development, he says, should remain protected. The NCAA already has a 20-hour-per-week rule, and Saban sees that kind of structure as a model for what’s negotiable and what’s not.
“There is a way to do this that satisfies both parties,” he said. “That gives cover to both groups, so that we can move forward.”
College Football or NFL Lite?
Perhaps the most pressing concern for Saban is what he sees as the creeping professionalization of college football. With NIL deals exploding and the transfer portal in overdrive, the sport is starting to look less like a collegiate experience and more like a minor league for the NFL.
“I think we got to decide that we want to be a professional developmental league,” he said. “Or are we really going to have college athletes who go get an education and develop value for their future as they’re playing and making money?”
Saban’s not against players earning money. Far from it.
He’s been vocal in the past about athletes deserving a piece of the pie. But he’s calling for some structure-some guardrails-to make sure the system doesn’t spiral out of control.
The Transfer Portal Whirlwind
If there’s one issue that really sticks in Saban’s craw, it’s player movement. NIL might get the headlines, but in his eyes, the transfer portal is the bigger problem.
“Everybody being able to transfer all the time-that’s not a good thing,” he said.
He pointed to a recent example in college basketball where a player returned from the NBA to play at Baylor. That, to Saban, is a sign that the lines between amateur and pro are blurring far too much. He even joked about a quarterback getting drafted by the New York Giants and then suiting up for Penn State.
“Calipari and Izzo are blowing me up,” he said. “I’m not even a basketball guy.”
A Voice Worth Listening To
Saban’s been around the game for over five decades. He’s seen it evolve, grow, and now, in many ways, unravel. Whether or not his ideas gain traction remains to be seen, but when someone with his track record speaks up, it’s worth paying attention.
He’s not calling for a return to the old days. He’s acknowledging the new era-and trying to find a way to make it sustainable.
Because at the end of the day, Saban still believes in what college football can be. But he’s also sounding the alarm: if something doesn’t change soon, the sport risks losing its identity altogether.