It’s been clear for a long time that Nick Saban would eventually end up in the College Football Hall of Fame. On Friday, he found out when that would happen.
And it was his College GameDay co-stars who delivered the news — doing so on camera before Friday’s Cotton Bowl between Ohio State and Texas.
“Since the advent of college football, in 1869, more than 6 million people have played or coached this great game and .02% of them have made the College Football Hall of Fame,” host Rece Davis said. “And even among that .02%, I think there’s even another level — observed for the greatest of all-time. And this December, coming up in Las Vegas — the National Football Foundation Awards Dinner — their new Hall of Fame class will be announced. Headlining that class will be the greatest college football coach in the history of the sport, Nick Saban.”
The ‘College GameDay’ crew let Nick Saban know he’s officially in the 2025 class for the College Football Hall of Fame pic.twitter.com/wJrrPLrx6l
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 10, 2025
“When did that happen? I didn’t know anything about it,” Saban said while shaking hands with Pat McAfee and Kirk Herbstreit.
McAfee then presented Saban with a game ball to commemorate the occasion.
“This is a surprise to you,” McAfee said. “You’re the first one getting announced. But I think what I was told — and Rece, you can back me up — easiest vote in history. You are the GOAT. How you’ve represented this sport. How you’ve done on this particular program, talking for the sport that you’ve committed your entire life to. Congratulations, coach. And we love you, man.”
Saban then began his impromptu speech.
“Thank you so much,” he said. “But anytime anything like this happens, it’s because you had a lot of great people in your organization. A lot of great players, a lot of great coaches, a lot of support staff — and they made a great team. And I was happy to drive the bus, but we had some great people on it.”
“A lot of those guys that have been on that bus would probably be happy to go to Las Vegas and celebrate with you,” Davis replied.
Yeah. Even some guys that have only been teammates — on you — Vegas trip on you,” McAfee said.
“I don’t know how many players I got can match you,” Saban joked in reply.
In all honesty, McAfee’s claim that it was the “Easiest vote in history” is spot on.
After his playing career ended, Saban got into coaching, first as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Kent State, in 1973. He became a head coach for the first time at Toledo in 1990 but was only there for one season before becoming the defensive coordinator for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in 1991. Saban remained in Cleveland through the 1994 season before becoming Michigan State’s head coach in 1995. In 2000, Saban became LSU’s head coach. He won his first national championship there in 2003. After returning to the NFL for the 2005 and 2006 seasons as head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Saban returned to the college ranks in 2007, taking over at Alabama.
With the Crimson Tide, Saban won six more national championships (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020) giving him seven total before he retired after the 2023 season.
