Former Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban has been in the spotlight since reports emerged during the week linking him to the vacant LSU Tigers job. Saban brought a national championship to Baton Rouge during his five-year tenure (2000-2004), before establishing himself as a legend in Tuscaloosa.
The Tigers’ job fell vacant last week after coach Brian Kelly was fired in the aftermath of a blowout loss to the Texas A&M Aggies, who are ranked No. 4 in PFSN’s CFB Playoff Meter in Week 9, all but ending LSU’s hopes of clinching a college football playoff berth.
Brian Kelly Linked to OSU Job As Nick Saban Looks at LSU Job
On Friday, ESPN Plus reporter Patrick Netherton revealed on X that earlier in the week, Saban had flown to Baton Rouge to discuss the LSU job opening. In the report, Netherton claimed that the former Bama coach had been offered a mammoth contract worth $60 million, spread over three years, with the promise of appointing his successor and becoming the school’s athletic director afterward.
After the news about Saban broke, during Friday’s segment of the “Adapt & Respond” show, analyst RJ Young already linked the recently fired Kelly to the vacant Oklahoma State Cowboys job, following their sacking of Mike Gundy a month ago (23:20).
“Meanwhile, I think Brian Kelly would fit right in at Oklahoma State, I don’t mind saying it,” Young said.
Nick Saban Addresses State of LSU Job
During Friday’s segment of the “Pat McAfee Show,” Saban addressed the attractiveness of traditionally elite jobs, including the LSU Tigers and Florida Gators positions, both of which are currently vacant.
“And my point about tradition is, some of the traditional jobs, like LSU, that people always looked at as one of the best jobs, have they adapted to all these things like they need to be able to continue to be one of the best jobs in the country?” Nick Saban asked.
“I think that’s why you see Vandy, Indiana… Places who have not historically been traditionally great jobs, actually having a lot of success now, because they have managed the external factors very well to bring it in-house, so that they can function effectively. So what’s to say LSU, Florida… they’re traditionally the best jobs. But are they the best jobs now, relatively speaking.”
Saban had a parting shot that erased all doubt about a miraculous return to college football. “No way,” Saban told McAfee. “I have so much fun working with you. Why would I go do that?”
Since retiring in January 2024, Nick Saban has carved out a niche for himself with his precise analysis on ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
