The NCAA’s 12-game regular season is the norm today, but it wasn’t always that way. You know, the battle over a nine-game conference schedule has been brewing for years. Because, traditionally, SEC teams stuck to eight conference games — six divisional showdowns and two cross-division clashes. But with conference realignment and playoff expansion, the pressure to add a ninth game intensified. And back in 2014, Nick Saban was all for it, pushing for tougher matchups and stronger playoff resumes. But fast forward to 2022, he made a stunning U-turn, suddenly wary of the extra challenge. And now, as the SEC faces a turning point, Saban is thrust into the spotlight by a bold insider’s critique.

On a recent episode of That SEC Football podcast, SEC Mike Bratton dived into the latest CFB buzz, with Paul Finebaum weighing in as the voice of the SEC. The conversation took a sharp turn when Mike brought up the idea of expanding the regular season to nine games. Finebaum then revealed a shocking revelation, particularly in reference to Nick Saban.

Finebaum said, “In terms of the nine games, I want to get your thoughts on that because it’s taken a while. We’ve been together many times when certain conference members — you know who they are — said, ‘Well, we don’t want to go to nine games.’ The most surprising was two years ago. The guy who led the fight 11 years ago, Nick Saban, suddenly said, ‘I don’t know if I want to see Auburn, Tennessee, and LSU every year.’ Remember that?” To be honest, his words sent shockwaves, calling out the unexpected shift from one of the SEC’s most powerful voices.

And after Paul’s bold stance, Mike didn’t hold back in his response. Mike fired back with a sharp take on Saban’s shift in opinion. “Oh yeah, that was when that decaying dynasty was on its last leg. We couldn’t make it any more difficult on Nick, poor Nick Saban, with the best roster and all. So yeah, that was quite an about-face. But I’m glad that — now, I’m not happy he stepped aside because I think he makes the SEC better — but I am happy that he’s no longer in the way of a nine-game conference schedule,” said Mike.

As of now, Mike’s words cut deep, signaling a shifting tide in the SEC. And he wasn’t just talking — he had the facts to back it up. “Because, you know, there are just so many great games, Paul. And again, with an expanded playoff, you could afford a loss or two. Heck, Ohio State got embarrassed more than once last year, and they still went on to win the national championship. So, all power to them.” Here, his point was clear—the game is evolving, and the SEC needs to keep up.

See, back when the Big Ten and Big 12 had already embraced nine-game schedules, Saban’s stance stood out. Now, that past blunder might just cost him a shot at the CFB Commissioner role. Recently, USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams aren’t buying into the idea of Saban leading the sport. And is it all because Saban stood firm against expanding the regular season?

As Toppmeyer and Adams put it, “We agree that a college football commissioner could enact some meaningful, widely popular changes within the sport, but we’re not ready to cede this responsibility to Saban, who would foremost look out for coaches.” But not everyone sees it that way.

Does Nick Saban’s attempt to become CFB commissioner have a chance?

There are several reasons why CFB is getting out of hand, including eligibility issues, NIL, the ever-changing CFP format, and the question of whether the NCAA still has a function. As of now, what is the solution? A CFB commissioner. In the lead-up to his Nittany Lions’ Fiesta Bowl game against Boise State in December, James Franklin of Penn State University advocated for Saban to be the commissioner.

“I think one of the most important things we can do is, 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,” Franklin said. “I think Nick Saban would be the obvious choice if we made that decision. Now, Nick will probably call me tonight and say, ‘Don’t do this,’ but I think he’s the obvious choice, right?” Well, Nick Saban’s coaching record since 1990 surely says he’s got a good grasp over the game but being a commissioner is a different gameplay.

However, it’s not just Penn State’s head coach pushing Saban for the role — Lane Kiffin has thrown his support behind him too. And that speaks volumes. However, so far, only coaches seem to be backing Saban as the sport’s future leader. But if the commissioner’s role ever becomes a reality, the big question remains — who would truly have the most support? Fans, analysts, and administrators might see things differently.