College football really is its own thing. A novel concept and standalone microcosm of the sports realm. Its unique nature stems from the top down. The fate of the sport lies at the mercy of a committee or panel more than usual yardsticks such as the win/loss column. It doesn’t have a commissioner figure so big decisions can have a touch of incompetence to them, or at least that’s how people perceive it. The mass apprehension towards the new CFP format goes to show how the sport may need a fresh outlook and directive. In this era of continually changing dynamics in the sport, a seismic one is perhaps on the horizon- Nick Saban as CFB commissioner.

Important voices across different conferences are lobbying for the advent of a CFB commissioner capacity. This shall be similar to how Adam Silver and Roger Goodell are custodians of the NBA and NFL, respectively. Lane Kiffin and James Franklin have suggested Nick Saban as the ideal guy to do so. This opinion has been echoed by Pat McAfee as well, who was campaigning for Saban on College GameDay before the Rose Bowl. The idea is to bring more unison and parity among the different conferences under one singular umbrella, at least in theory. However, one ex-pro believes hiring Saban will have the opposite effect.

The CFB sphere is a bit of an echo chamber. One notion often reverberates across all corners. SEC bias and homerism are an undying part of the discourse regarding every facet of the sport. Shaun King believes hiring Nick Saban as the commissioner will lead to the SEC getting favorable decisions their way. He shared his opinion on affairs on The Coach JB Show with Big Smitty‘s YouTube channel, guesting on the show with Jason Brown of Netflix’s “Last Chance U” fame.

“I’m kind of torn because, in a lot of ways, I think Saban would be great as a commissioner of the NCAA,” said King. He then proceeded to explain his gripe. “Knowing all of the top 25 head coaches that I know over the course of the last 20 years, Boise State and them kinds of schools will never get in the CFP again if one of them was a commissioner…If you think it was SEC bias without Nick Saban being the chair, oh man. If Saban was the chair South Carolina, Alabama [and] Ole Miss all would have been in the 12. Trust me.”

Those 3 programs being left on the periphery by the committee was a highly contested decision. With how the playoffs have transpired, it has somewhat quelled those of an SEC persuasion. It’s difficult to discern if a commissioner, Nick Saban or someone else even, will be a definitive solution. The current structure of college football is fractured, but it’s not broken. As is the case with any change to the convention, it’s met with skepticism. Shaun King is skeptical about Saban, while a major CFB coach is skeptical about the whole ordeal.

Kirby Smart questions the need for Nick Saban as CFB commissioner

The Georgia Bulldogs failed to make much noise in the grand scheme of the CFP. However, they remain one of, if not the most successful programs in the country over recent seasons. As such, Kirby Smart is naturally not inclined to bring revolutionary changes to the sport. “I don’t know that it’s as simple as saying, ‘let’s name a commissioner,’ and it solves all our problems. I don’t think that’s the case,” said Kirby Smart before the Sugar Bowl. He elaborated on this stance, leveraging his thoughts on Nick Saban as the figurehead of this revolution.

“I think we’re governed by several separate circumstances. Conferences govern us. The NCAA governs us. Now. We have courts governing us, and nobody is over all of those. I think a commissioner would be a nice thing in theory, but what can they effectively get done if everybody can’t agree on something?” remarked coach Smart. He proceeded to say, “Nick [Saban] would be great. I know he’s a huge advocate for CFB. He wants to make it better.” Guess Kirby Smart knew not to swim upstream and go against his supporter Saban in case this does transpire into reality.

Whether it’s Saban or someone else, the sport does seem to be trending towards eventually having a commissioner. With the money and eyeballs it garners, CFB is becoming adjacent to the pro leagues, anyway. Streamlining operations and having a clearer hierarchy should net a positive impact. Expect this development to simmer along for a while, deep into the offseason.