
Penn State head coach James Franklin has suggested that college football would benefit from having a dedicated commissioner to oversee the sport’s interests.
He proposed former Alabama coach Nick Saban as an ideal candidate for this role, stating, “I think he’s the obvious choice, right?”
However, Franklin mentioned that Saban was not pleased with this suggestion. During a recent call, Franklin noted, “I was on a call the other day with Nick Saban, and he wasn’t real happy about me promoting him for the commissioner of college football.”
Franklin’s proposal comes amid significant changes in college athletics, including conference realignment and the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations. He believes that a commissioner could provide unified leadership, ensuring decisions are made in the best interest of the sport as a whole, rather than being influenced by individual conferences or universities.
Nick Saban, who retired after the 2024 season, is widely regarded as one of the most successful coaches in college football history, having secured seven national titles during his career. He currently serves as an analyst for ESPN’s “College Game Day”.