Nick Saban’s reign of terror over the CFB sphere spanned over 2 decades. Going into Tuscaloosa was akin to heading to a bar on the weekend—you knew you were about to get battered and then leave empty-handed. Multiple championships were won, and a plethora of talent was developed for the next rung. Seems like the daunting stature of Saban didn’t only have people shaking near the epicenter Alabama. It permeated outside, too. Even to boardrooms with stakeholders tasked with running things in the sport. 

There’s been plenty of conjecture over the years about how the bluebloods earned that status. They bred success with the best-in-class personnel. The best talent has always been concentrated around certain schools. One reason was history and prestige. Another was geography. But there’s also an underlying notion that some schools broke the rules. Naturally, it’s widely believed the modern dynasty that is Nick Saban’s Alabama had, lets just say, authorities turning a blind eye. In more than one way. One FSU fan and revered CFB insider has opened a can of worms. About how his team got duped in favor of Bama by Warde Manuel and his CFP committee that fateful Selection Sunday in 2023. All because the proverbial GOAT Saban was on his farewell tour.

Their struggles last season make it seem like a mirage, an alternative reality. But the FSU Seminoles won the ACC in ‘23 and finished the regular season 13-0. Yet, they didn’t make the then 4-team playoff field. Mike Norvell and co. being snubbed from the CFP marked the first ever time a Power 5 team went unbeaten and still didn’t make the cut. All because QB Jordan Travis got injured in Week 12. Or so we’ve been led to believe. According to TJ Pittinger, the Seminoles were left out in favor of No. 5 ranked Bama because the committee was made privy to Nick Saban’s impending retirement. Hence putting him through for one last dance. It sounds equal parts far-fetched and reasonable. The perfect concoction for a conspiracy.

Over on X, Pittinger quoted a post reading, “What’s the one sports conspiracy that you swear is 100% true?” His reply, likely made in jest, read, “ESPN knew Saban was retiring, and that’s why they put Bama in over FSU in 2023.” Sour grapes, sarcasm, or sincerity? There’s no smoke without fire. Nick Saban has often been deemed as someone getting illicit favors by the court of public opinion. Last season, comedian Shane Gillis guested on College GameDay and accused Nick Saban of paying recruits to join Alabama pre-NIL being a thing. On theme with his profession, this was delivered veiled in humor. But what Gillis said is a prevailing sentiment across fans of the sport. So much so that even one of his biggest opponents, Pat McAfee, acknowledged it back in 2022. 

This coincided with a time when Nick Saban was very vocal in pushing back on the advent of NIL. This made for some lazy but rational discourse that Saban was only against because it would introduce more parity and affect Bama’s dominance. Pat McAfee said, “Everybody has assumed that for a long time, Nick Saban had been cheating and paying players under the table.” He even proceeded to outline how, which implies there was indeed some foul play that the CFB landscape was aware of.

“Paying family members to have jobs in the area so their bank accounts change [and] not the players’ bank accounts change. People are driving around in nice cars. That’s what the word was about Nick Saban from outside of Alabama,” remarked McAfee. Alas, this stuff will never be proven. Nor will the theory Pittinger floated about FSU missing out because of Saban’s stature within the game and ESPN, where he’s now employed. That said, the people of Florida are still fighting the good fight pertaining to their snub. Not on X, but indeed in the court of law.

A $1 million dollar lawsuit precedes this storm Nick Saban just found himself in the midst of

From an invincible season to the depths of the abyss. A storied program of the FSU Seminoles’ ilk cannot afford blips like the one they just had. 2-10, bottom of the ACC, and no respite whatsoever. When it rains, it pours. That cliche resounds with this program. Being left out of the playoffs was a line in the sand for Mike Norvell and his Seminoles. Absolutely nothing seems to have gone right since. It really was egregious how they were left out, the Saban angle aside. Even Florida Governor Ron DeSantis found it blasphemous and vowed to get his in-state school justice.

DeSantis’ proposed budget for the state involved a million dollars set aside for FSU. In order to offset any legal fees, they’ll have to shed against the CFP committee and powers that be. “We had one of our schools, Florida State, go undefeated this year and win the conference championship,” said Ron DeSantis. “They earned a spot in the college football playoffs, and they were excluded from that. We are going to put aside $1 million and let the chips fall where they may on that.” 

For years, CFB was akin to the Wild West. No real laws and those that are in place are mere words absent of weight. If Nick Saban’s Alabama and other blue-chip programs did indeed abuse loopholes in the legislature, it went largely unnoticed. As the sport gets closer to a professional operation, things are looking better—at least from a legitimacy standpoint. Saban allegedly got away with some misbehavior in his time. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have still not received their due punishment for the “sign-stealing” fiasco either. Change is requisite. The accusations on Alabama’s sheer dominance will remain incessant. A tax on their achievements in some ways.