Nick Saban Joins ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’ Following Alabama Retirement

The seven-time national champion is not leaving college football completely.

Nick Saban may be retired from coaching Alabama, but he isn’t leaving college football. ESPN announced it has hired Saban as a College GameDay analyst for the 2024 season. The former Crimson Tide coach will also contribute to ESPN’s NFL Draft and SEC Media Day coverage.

“ESPN and College GameDay have played such an important role in the growth of college football, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to join their team,” Saban said in a statement. “I’ll do my best to offer additional insights and perspectives to contribute to College GameDay, the ultimate Saturday tradition for college football fans.”

Saban retired as Alabama’s head coach in January after 17 seasons with the Crimson Tide, 28 years as a college head coach and over 50 years in the game of football. The 72-year-old will join Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard and Pat McAfee on ESPN’s College GameDay broadcasts every weekend.

Nick Saban joins ESPN as a @CollegeGameDay analyst

Alongside host Rece Davis & analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard & Pat McAfee at the desk

The 7x National Champion head coach will also appear on NFL Draft & SEC Media Days coverage

🔗 https://t.co/MtFTWpsCsO pic.twitter.com/bYC6nG8gnq

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 7, 2024

In his college coaching career, Saban totaled a 297-71-1 record with seven national championships and 12 conference championships while coaching at Alabama, LSU, Michigan State and Toledo. He also spent two years as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins in between stints at LSU and Alabama.

College GameDay has become a staple of college football coverage, as the broadcast has traveled to campuses across the country for 30 years. Saban will only add to the interest in a show that is already extremely popular.