As college football undergoes seismic shifts in player movement, name, image and likeness (NIL) policies, and competitive balance, a growing number of coaches believe the sport needs a singular leader to navigate the changing landscape. The latest voice to join the chorus? Penn State head coach James Franklin, who on Sunday nominated former Alabama coach Nick Saban as the “obvious choice” for a college football commissioner role.
Speaking at Fiesta Bowl media availability, Franklin emphasized the importance of having a dedicated leader focused solely on the best interests of college football as a whole, rather than individual conferences or schools. “I think one of the most important things we can do is, let’s get a commissioner of college football that is waking up every single morning and going to bed every single night making decisions that’s in the best interest of college football,” Franklin said. “I think Nick Saban would be the obvious choice if we made that decision.”
Saban’s Leadership Credentials
Saban’s credentials as a potential commissioner are undeniable. With seven national championships and a reputation as one of the greatest coaches in college football history, he commands respect across the sport. His experience leading elite programs like LSU and Alabama has given him unique insight into the challenges facing coaches, players, and administrators at the highest levels of competition.
But beyond his on-field success, Saban has also been an influential voice in shaping college football’s policies and direction. He has been a vocal advocate for reforms to the transfer portal system and NIL rules, arguing that unchecked player movement and financial inducements threaten the integrity and competitive balance of the sport. As a commissioner, Saban would be well-positioned to lead efforts to bring more structure and fairness to these transformative issues.
A Growing Call for Leadership
Franklin is not alone in suggesting Saban for the hypothetical commissioner role. Last week, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, a former Saban assistant, also endorsed his former boss for the position on social media. The fact that two prominent coaches from different conferences are publicly advocating for Saban’s leadership speaks to the growing sense of urgency around the need for a unifying force in college football.
“Whenever you have people that are making decisions and running college football, they’re going to be biased towards what’s best to their conference, and that’s not in the best interest of college football and the student athletes.”
– James Franklin, Penn State head coach
Franklin argued that the current conference-driven leadership model in college athletics is not working, as individual commissioners will always prioritize the interests of their own leagues over the greater good of the sport. “Whenever you have people that are making decisions and running college football, they’re going to be biased towards what’s best to their conference, and that’s not in the best interest of college football and the student athletes,” he said.
Reforming the System
In addition to advocating for a commissioner, Franklin also offered his own ideas for reform, including:
- Eliminating conference championship games to shorten the season and create a more balanced comparison for the playoff committee
- Having all conferences play the same number of league games (8 or 9)
- Starting the season a week earlier to “take some stress off of the academic calendar”
Franklin emphasized that leaders need to stop simply discussing the problems in college football and start implementing actionable solutions. “Rather than just say this is a problem, I thought I would throw out a few recommendations,” he said. “But I think one of the most important things we can do is let’s get a commissioner of college football.”
The Saban Question
Of course, the biggest question is whether Saban himself would be interested in taking on a commissioner role, especially so soon after retiring from coaching. Franklin acknowledged this, joking that “Nick will probably call me tonight and say, ‘Don’t do this.'”
But as the calls for a singular leader grow louder, and the challenges facing college football become more complex, the appeal of a unifying force like Saban may be hard to resist. For a sport in the midst of sweeping change, the steady hand of a respected leader could be just what’s needed to guide it into an uncertain future.
