College football news: Nick Saban claims NIL has ‘hurt’ the SEC
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Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban said the NIL, the name, image and likeness of NCAA student-athletes, is hurting the SEC, the conference in which he has long coached.
Saban, 73, coached for several years during the NIL era before retiring at the end of the 2023 season. The legendary coach said NIL has been helping schools in the North with recruitment.
“I think right now the culture of name, image and likeness (NIL) and paying players in college football is actually hurting the SEC a little bit and helping the schools in the North,” Saban said during a recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.” According to On3.com.
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Former Alabama coach Nick Saban sits on stage at ESPN’s “College GameDay” event ahead of the Oklahoma-Michigan game on Sept. 6 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Ghost)
“Because if you’re making up your mind about money and someone is going to pay you more money to go to Ohio State or Michigan or wherever — I’m not complaining about that. It’s just the way it is — then those kids are going to be more willing to move.”
Saban said the NIL has changed the culture of college football because high school students now want to play for the team that will pay them the most money.
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Former Alabama coach Nick Saban smiles as he walks onto the set at ESPN’s “College GameDay” event in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 4. (IMAGN)
“Kids don’t grow up wanting to go to Alabama, wanting to go to Georgia, wanting to go to Florida, wanting to go to Texas. They want to go to whoever will give them the most money,” Saban said.
“So I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that. I’m just saying that the (college football) culture has changed, which I think has caused the regional advantage that the Southeastern Conference has had for years to no longer be an advantage.”
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Nick Saban on the set of ESPN’s “College GameDay” in Norman, Oklahoma, on September 6. (Ghost)
Saban’s assessment may be accurate because the SEC team has not played for a national championship since the 2022 season. The last two national championships were won by Big Ten teams: Michigan in 2023 and Ohio State in 2024.
Saban has said in the past that NIL was not the reason for his retirement, but he remained firm in his belief that changes needed to be made.
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