Nick Saban, let me tell you, he’s been a football genius from day one. Always ahead of the game when it comes to recruiting. But now, with this whole Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) thing, it’s like the wild west out there. NIL’s got no salary cap, unlike the NFL, and that’s making college football a whole new ballgame.

The NCAA, which honestly never seemed to serve much purpose, used to keep athletes on a tight leash, like they had cement blocks for feet. But now, it’s like they’re riding unicorns with the freedom to transfer whenever they please and rake in crazy amounts of cash.

Saban took his teams to nine national title games! I mean, nine! And he did it in the toughest conference in college football, with some so-so quarterbacks and a revolving door of coaches. You know what sets the greats apart? Timing. And Nick Saban, he’s got impeccable timing.

Now, I’m not here to bash Saban. Quite the opposite. I’m here to give the man props for recognizing that while he could’ve probably won another national title (he’s Nick Saban, after all), it was all about when and how long it would take.

See, Saban’s edge was his recruiting game. But over the past year or so, you started hearing stories that families weren’t exactly thrilled when he came knocking. Saban, consciously or not, must’ve sensed that his time was up. He had the foresight to realize that NIL was gonna flip the recruiting world on its head, and it was time to call it.

Will we ever see another college football coach like Saban? I seriously doubt it. The man had an unparalleled run, controlling the college football scene for a solid decade. And with Belichick struggling without Brady, it just shows how amazing a coach Saban was, especially with the constant flow of new recruits.

From his nine national title appearances to that infamous office door that closed at the push of a button, he wasn’t just a coaching legend, but a character for the ages.

Good luck to whoever steps into Saban’s shoes. They’re the biggest shoes to fill, that’s for sure.