Why in the world is Nick Saban giving Georgia a leg up instead of Alabama? That’s the million-dollar question sending shockwaves through SEC circles. The former Crimson Tide HC—who racked up six National Championships and built Bama into a dynasty—is still on the payroll in Tuscaloosa. But now he’s out here, giving Kirby Smart a recruiting advantage? Yeah, eyebrows are raised. 

SEC Mike isn’t going to stop prodding. And this time, he got a juicier answer from Cousin Shane on February 12’s episode on That SEC Football Podcast. Talking about the possibility of why Nick Saban chose to help Georgia instead of Alabama, he said, “He wants to be identified as the best, the greatest college football coach in history. And we knew when he left Alabama, he was going to leave as the best football coach ever but I also felt like he was going to make it tougher for the next chapter so that he’s not dethroned.” Is this how higher minds work?

Cousin Shane also threw in a scenario where Kalen DeBoer comes in as his replacement and wins three straight national championships. What would that mean for the 73-year-old GOAT coach? “Nick Saban’s career looks smaller and smaller.” This response earned a chuckle from SEC Mike. He probably likes it better than what he got from Chris Marler on the same subject on his previous show. “It’s almost like Nick Saban just wants what’s good for the sport,” Marler had said. “I don’t know if he’s trying to help Georgia. I do love the fact that he’s anti-government though, I think that’s great.”

But the general notion of this move is similar, as Shane added—“Honestly, whatever competitive edge the SEC needs to compete with teams like Ohio State and Notre Dame when it comes to NIL, I’m all for it Mike, because I don’t like losing. I don’t like watching a National Championship and one of my beloved teams are not in it.” This year’s National Championship game is a wake-up call for the SEC, and perhaps Nick Saban sees Georgia as the leading contender for a natty?

How Nick Saban proposed a tax-free NIL for Georgia

It was during a dinner at Lake Burton. Georgia State Senator Brandon Beach sat down with Nick Saban and his wife Terry and others when the former Alabama HC made a surprising proposition. “He loves Kirby Smart like a son,” Beach recounted. Their championship-winning partnership at Alabama clearly forged a deep connection. “And he said, ‘If you want to help Kirby until they figure out all this NIL stuff, one thing you could do is eliminate the income tax on NIL athletes.’ So I actually got the idea from Nick Saban.” 

And just like that, Senate Bill 71 was filed on February 4, aiming to exempt taxes for NIL income to give in-state schools like Georgia and Georgia Tech a competitive edge over other schools. Confusion arose because Nick Saban is still on a $500,000 payroll as the athletic department advisor for the Crimson Tide. So why is he handing Georgia a golden ticket? 

Is it just a demonstration of unbiased leadership, as Marler sees it? Or does Nick Saban have an ulterior motive that Shane proposed? One thing’s for sure—this story isn’t going away anytime soon.