ESPN: The great man Nick Saban retired

Nick Saban won six national titles at Alabama, elevating an already iconic program to the stratosphere of the sport while cementing himself as the best to ever walk a college sideline.

Who wants to follow the GOAT?

We will soon find out after Saban shockingly retired from his post Wednesday after 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide. Although retirement had become an increasingly common topic around the 72-year-old, he also had given indications that he would return for the 2024 season, and remains in strong health. Saban has often talked about how he has been affiliated with teams almost his entire life and doesn’t know how he would function without one. But he’s ready to find out.

Saban’s impact on Alabama is astounding. He finished in the top 10 in each of his final 16 seasons, winning nine SEC titles and making eight College Football Playoff appearances. Although Alabama was considered a blue blood long before his arrival, he inherited a program that had lost six or more games in three of the four seasons before he got there, and had one AP top-10 finish in the previous 12 seasons. He changed how programs structure their staffs and infrastructure, while lifting the university’s profile to new heights.

Coupled with a national title at LSU and stints at both Michigan State and Toledo, Saban went 292-71-1 in 28 seasons as a college coach with 12 conference titles and 18 bowl victories. He leaves gargantuan shoes to fill, which could impact the candidate pool for an otherwise A-list job. As an industry source noted Wednesday, “The expectations are massive, but so are the resources there.”

Athletic director Greg Byrne is a veteran administrator who came to Alabama knowing this day would come but now must make a career-defining hire. He certainly will focus on established coaches, including some with ties to the school and the SEC, for Saban’s replacement.

Here’s a look at the potential candidates.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin: He’s one of many notable coaches whose careers pivoted for the better under Saban’s tutelage. Kiffin, 48, came to Alabama after being fired by USC. He reenergized his profile as offensive coordinator, helping the Crimson Tide to a national title in 2015. He has since put together successful stints at Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss, which finished No. 9 nationally this season and will field an arguably better roster this fall. Kiffin’s respect for Saban runs deep, but he also has the personality and confidence to replace a legend and continue Alabama’s success. A lack of championships as a head coach could hurt Kiffin’s candidacy, and his personality certainly would represent a departure from Saban’s.

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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney: The Alabama native and former Crimson Tide wide receiver built a Clemson program that challenged Saban during one of his most dominant stretches. Clemson twice beat Alabama for national titles (2016, 2018) and faced the Tide in three consecutive CFP matchups. Swinney, 54, took a different approach than Saban to get Clemson to the top of the sport, but also has some similarities to the man he could replace. He boasts eight ACC titles at Clemson, although just one since 2020. Alabama certainly has some emotional appeal for Swinney but would also bring pressures that he doesn’t face at Clemson. His distinct methods to program-building, including a reluctance to take transfers, might not go over as well at Alabama. But his credentials certainly put him on the list.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning: The 37-year-old has quickly established himself as one of the sport’s top young coaching stars. He has a direct connection to Saban and Alabama, serving as a graduate assistant there in 2015. He also worked under Saban protégé Kirby Smart at Georgia from 2018 to 2021. Lanning oversaw one of the sport’s greatest defenses as Georgia ended its national title drought in 2021 and has guided Oregon to a 22-5 record in two seasons. The concern with Lanning is a massive buyout of $20 million that could be too steep for even Alabama. Lanning also has been extremely vocal about his commitment to Oregon, a program that has supported him both through his contract and with other resources. The Ducks are positioned to be an annual CFP contender.

Washington coach Kalen DeBoer: As Washington prepares to sign DeBoer to a major new contract, Alabama could swoop in and take him away. DeBoer, 49, just guided the Huskies to the national title game and their first CFP appearance since 2016 in only his second season at the school. He has quickly established himself as one of the nation’s best big-game coaches, as the championship game loss to Michigan marked his first against a ranked opponent at Washington. DeBoer is 104-12 as a college coach with three NAIA national titles at Sioux Falls, his alma mater. Although he has seamlessly transitioned to overseeing a major program at Washington, Alabama represents a different beast in an unfamiliar region. DeBoer has never coached in the South and seems extremely happy at Washington. He has a $12 million buyout.

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Florida State coach Mike Norvell: After losing the fourth and final CFP spot to Alabama, could the Seminoles then lose their coach to the Tide? That would be painful but also possible, given the appeal of the Alabama job. Norvell, 42, showed this past season that his coaching and leadership skills match his playcalling prowess, which has been admired for years. He guided Florida State to its first ACC title since 2014 and a 13-0 start, before the CFP snub. Florida State’s uncertain future with the ACC could factor in here, as Alabama offers more stability in the SEC and with its resources. Norvell, a Texas native who played wide receiver at Louisiana Tech and Central Arkansas, has never coached in the SEC. A $4 million buyout is a bit more reasonable than some others listed.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian: Like Kiffin, Sarkisian was a fired USC coach who came to Alabama seeking a career reboot of sorts and received one. He served as an analyst and interim offensive coordinator at the end of the 2016 season, then returned as offensive coordinator in 2019. He helped Alabama to its most recent national title before landing the top job at Texas, which he guided to its first CFP appearance this year. Sarkisian, 49, already finds himself at an A-list job and can guide Texas into the SEC with incredible resources and momentum. He might not want the hassle of following Saban, but he should be on Byrne’s call list given his recent success.

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Penn State coach James Franklin: He might not be as high on Alabama’s wish list as the others here, but could make a compelling case as a candidate. Franklin guided Penn State to an improbable Big Ten title in 2016, just years after historic NCAA sanctions hit the program, and went 43-11 from 2016 to 2019. His big-game struggles are real and were magnified the past few seasons, but perhaps those have more to do with Penn State’s place in college football’s pecking order. Franklin, 51, might view Alabama as a program that can more easily compete at a national level. He has SEC experience from Vanderbilt, where he went 24-15 with consecutive nine-win seasons, and has recruited the Southeast for years.