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Paul Finebaum explains why Nick Saban won’t be ‘commissioner of college football’
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Paul Finebaum spoke about the potential of former Alabama head coach Nick Saban becoming the “commissioner of college football” in a recent interview.
The idea was first broached by Penn State coach James Franklin last month as college football leaders search for consensus about how to structure the sport moving forward.
Finebaum threw cold water on the idea, but not because he doesn’t think Saban would be a capable leader. Instead, Finebaum doesn’t foresee the current conference commissioners of the power-4 football leagues giving up power.
“The reason why there won’t be a commissioner is that the [4 conference] commissioners are not about to cede power,” Finebaum told AL.com this week. “They hold it all. And they’re not giving to Nick Saban.
Finebaum also acknowledged that Saban is already someone with a strong voice that current college football leaders are already consulting.
“There could be an advisory role,” Finebaum added. “But it’s not as if Nick Saban isn’t consulted. He has been. I know the SEC commissioner has always talked to him … I don’t mean to diminish Saban, but it’s not like he has anything new to add that hasn’t already been suggested.”
Saban is expected to continue in his role as a College GameDay analyst in 2025.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
