Allow us to start by saying that we've got nothing but respect for Nick Saban, undoubtedly the GOAT when it comes to college football coaching. However, he's got a lot of Ohio State football fans up in arms over some pretty absurd comments he made this week.
While on The Pat McAfee Show, Saban was discussing the current NIL landscape, something he's voiced on more than one occasion he's not happy with. In doing so, and talking about recruiting down south, it felt like he tossed Ohio State under the bus. How? He said kids who grew up dreaming about going to SEC powerhouses now 'don't mind' going to Ohio State because they're getting paydays. Come on, Nick!
Watch 5-star Ohio State football commit post 1 of the most wild TDs of the year
I know this isn’t exactly the point but the idea that kids don’t grow up wanting to play at Ohio State or other Big Ten schools is wild.
— Shehan Jeyarajah (@ShehanJeyarajah) September 5, 2025
His best ever quarterback wanted to play at USC! https://t.co/0hKFl99SHp
Ohio State football fans are furious with Nick Saban over his latest NIL comments
On one hand, sure, we get it, kids from that part of the U.S. probably indeed grew up watching LSU, Georgia and Alabama and always imagined themselves playing for one of those schools. You could say the same about youngsters out west wanting to play for Oregon and USC.
However, Saban made it seem like the Buckeyes are some sort of second-rate program and not one of the most iconic college brands in the country. Playing for Ohio State is always going to be a privilege and it's something families always have in the back of their minds when they're being recruited.
You know what else helps Ohio State in addition to NIL? The fact that it's a Big Ten powerhouse, known for winning games at the biggest stage. Perhaps Saban is unaware, but the Buckeyes won the natty last season. Maybe that's why 5-star prospects want to play for the Buckeyes?
Ryan Day catches a lot of flack for his struggles against Michigan, but his last two wins have resulted in a national championship title and a W over then No. 1 Texas. Yeah, NIL will stand out a bit for elite targets, but getting the job done on the field still matters too. This is something Saban should realize before he tries bringing down Ohio State again in the future.