As the season nears its conclusion, unlike any other in college football, Nick Saban continues to emphasize the changes needed for the sport’s future.
During his segment on The Pat McAfee Show in Atlanta on Monday, Saban reiterated his call for better regulation of name, image, and likeness (NIL) in college sports. He specifically advocated for consistency in how much and in what manner schools can spend on NIL deals, aiming to improve the current model.
“All I’m saying? The people out there need to know this model is unsustainable,” said Saban. “It’s not good for players.”
“Players need to get compensated, no doubt. But it has to be done in a way where, you know, in some kind of way, have competitive balance, you know, and that every school has the same thing,” Saban said. “One school can’t spend $30 million for players while another schools spending $3 million.”
With that, Saban deferred the responsibility to lawmakers in Washington D.C., although they are currently preoccupied with their own pressing matters on Capitol Hill.
“I mean, people in Congress – I don’t care who has to get off their butt and do something,” Saban said.
This follows weeks of speculation, with many suggesting Saban as an ideal candidate for the role of commissioner of college football.
For now, there’s one final game to be played with the national title game tonight. Afterward, the offseason will provide an opportunity for those in positions of power to revisit and address issues like this as the sport moves forward.
