It’s the end of the road for Saban.
This is a day of mourning for Paul Finebaum.
Nick Saban was 292-71-1 in 28 seasons as an FBS head coach, he won seven national championships, and now he’s retiring, per multiple reports.
The Michigan Wolverines and head coach Jim Harbaugh prevented Saban from winning his eighth national championship and ended Saban’s career on a losing note in epic fashion in the Rose Bowl last week.
The game was a thriller and one in which Michigan battled back from a 20-13 deficit to win 27-20 in overtime. Michigan running back Blake Corum gave Michigan the lead in overtime with an epic run and then the Michigan defense had an incredible goal-line stand against Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to end the game.
blake corum touchdown in overtime pic.twitter.com/Ab6L4d3jLQ
— ◇ (@2MANYBRIDGES) January 2, 2024
Jalen Milroe is trying to read the LB that runs with his RB on the swing route. If he runs with him, it’s a keep. If he sits to play the run, it’s a throw. Low snap, he only feels LB running with his RB. DL blows up power. Milroe reacts. Ball game.
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) January 2, 2024
Michigan would go on to win the national championship on Monday against Washington while Alabama sat at home and contemplated retirement. Now it appears that contemplation has concluded with multiple reports indicating Saban is retiring.
The fact that Saban’s historic career ended with a loss to the Wolverines makes Michigan’s title run all the more epic and historic, his retirement is now part of Michigan’s championship story. Michigan slayed the beast and showed they could beat the SEC juggernaut Crimson Tide when almost every pundit and talking head had their money on Saban and Alabama.