The future of Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban is being debated ahead of the College Football Playoff.
Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports presented the newest rumors about Saban possibly retiring this offseason. Under this scenario, the college football insider feels Oregon head coach Dan Lanning would be a viable candidate to succeed Saban at Alabama.
“In fact, Alabama being Alabama, speculation has spread to include who might replace Saban,” Dodd wrote in a December 31, 2023 piece titled “Why Alabama’s Nick Saban and Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh could both move on after this College Football Playoff.” “The first call might have to go to Oregon’s Dan Lanning, who proved himself a skilled SEC recruiter and coordinator at Alabama (graduate assistant in 2015) and Georgia (assistant coach from 2018-21).”
Prior to taking over as head coach at Oregon, Lanning had stops at Alabama and, more recently, Georgia. The coach has led the Ducks to back-to-back 10-win seasons. Lanning has a 21-5 record in his first two seasons at Eugene.
Potential Alabama Candidate Dan Lanning Signed a $45 Million Contract Extension With Oregon in 2023
Lanning received a six-year, $45 million contract extension with the Ducks this offseason, according to CBS Sports’ Barrett Sallee. According to Oregon Live, Lanning’s contract will now be extended through 2030 as a result of the Ducks winning 10 games.
“Dan Lanning earned a one-year contract extension thanks to No. 6 Oregon beating Arizona State,” Oregon Live’s James Crepea wrote in a November 18 piece titled “Dan Lanning earns 1-year contract extension at Oregon.”
“Lanning, who signed a contract extension with a raise in July, earned a one-year extension through January 2030 worth $8.2 million in salary plus $1 million in deferred compensation for Oregon’s 10th regular season win.”
There Has Been a Growing Buzz About Alabama Football’s Nick Saban’s Retirement: Insider
The speculation comes as Dodd claims that there has been increased talk over Saban’s future in the previous month. According to The Athletic, Saban signed an eight-year, $93.6 million contract in 2022 that will run until 2030.
“Meanwhile, the Saban retirement buzz started bubbling up about a month ago,” Dodd said. “Will perhaps the greatest college football coach of all time consider retiring?” One agent told CBS Sports that during the previous 30 days, his phone started ringing with informed speculation that Saban’s career was coming to an end.
“… It’s no secret that whenever Saban goes out, he wants to do so in style and at his leisure. “It has to be concerning that his mentor, Bill Belichick, is going through the opposite situation near the end of his career,” Dodd continues.
“In Belichick’s 24th season, the New England Patriots have fallen to 4-12. According to a source close to Saban, “Alabama’s coach has absolutely recognized that turn of events in New England.”
Could Alabama Make a Run at Deion Sanders Once Nick Saban Retires?
Earlier this season, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman suggested Colorado head coach Deion Sanders as a possible replacement for Saban. It’s worth noting that this recommendation occurred at the height of Colorado’s success under Coach Prime during the first month of the season. Feldman stated that Sanders would not be afraid to replace a legend such as Saban.
“I know one guy who would, and that’s Deion Sanders,” Feldman said on “The Audible” podcast on September 27. “Deion Sanders, I have no doubt, would have no qualms of being the guy to replace John Wooden or the guy to replace Nick Saban.”
