Here’s a wild idea: a College Football Commissioner. Sounds a bit out there, right? But with all the chaos in college football—NIL deals, transfer portal drama, uneven schedules—maybe it’s exactly what the sport needs. And what better name to throw into the mix than the GOAT himself, Nick Saban? From legendary coach to ESPN analyst, Saban has done it all. Now, thanks to a nudge from Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, the idea of Saban stepping into a commissioner role is turning heads.

Kiffin, a former assistant under Saban, took to X last week to say he’d back the ex-Alabama coach for the role. Not a shocker, especially since Kiffin’s Rebels got snubbed by the CFP playoff committee this year. But Kiffin isn’t alone in this. James Franklin, Penn State’s $85 million man, also wants Saban at the helm.

Penn State’s in the CFP playoffs and set to face Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, but Franklin isn’t just focused on winning games. He’s got his eyes on fixing the sport. Franklin has been vocal about the issues plaguing college football, from NIL headaches to players bouncing around in the transfer portal. For him, the solution is simple: appoint a commissioner, and Saban’s the “obvious choice.”

In a recent press conference, Franklin didn’t hold back. “Let’s get a commissioner of college football that is waking up every single morning and going to bed every single night, making decisions that’s in the best interest of college football,” he said. According to Franklin, Saban is the man for the job and could bring much-needed structure and solutions to the game.

Franklin also shared some bold ideas to level the playing field, like ditching conference championship games. His argument? These games stretch the season, risk injuries, and create an uneven comparison for the CFP selection committee. “When you have a committee sitting in a room trying to compare apples to apples or oranges to oranges, it’s hard to do that when not everybody’s playing under the same model,” Franklin said. “Get rid of the conference championship game. That will shorten the season and help with the window a little bit.”

So, why does college football need a commissioner? To steer the ship. To tackle NIL and transfer portal chaos. To bring consistency to schedules. Whether it’s Saban or someone else, the call for leadership is getting louder. Could Saban be the one to answer it? Are there other names in the picture? Well, Boise State’s Spencer Danielson came up with one.

Does CFB really need a commissioner?

CFB has seen significant conference reorientation in the last few years alone. The rise of the CFB playoff from 4 teams to twelve. The introduction of more lenient transfer regulations with the portal. And the possibility for athletes to make more money through their NILs. To make things even more complicated, the college football calendar is a mess. The transfer portal window opens right after the regular season ends, and the early signing period for high school recruits happens during the same time as the College Football Playoff and bowl games.

Coaches have their plates overflowing. They’re juggling playoff prep, recruiting high schoolers, keeping their own players from leaving the portal, and actively searching for new talent. It’s a chaotic mess. Why wouldn’t any team, even one in the playoffs, want a change in the system?

However, undoubtedly, there have been advantages, including giving players more freedom to switch to better teams and make more money. But as Franklin pointed out, lots of big changes have made things pretty chaotic. And he’s absolutely right. Now, let’s see if Franklin and Kffin’s proposal ever becomes a reality.