James Franklin, the head coach of Penn State, has been a vocal advocate for the need for a dedicated college football commissioner. His position gained attention when he suggested that Alabama’s Nick Saban might be a good candidate to take on that role. However, Franklin recently shared that Saban wasn’t particularly thrilled by the suggestion, emphasizing that the Alabama coach wasn’t “real happy” about him promoting his name for such a position.
The need for a college football commissioner has been a topic of increasing discussion in recent years as the sport continues to grow in complexity and importance. The landscape of college football has changed dramatically with the introduction of the College Football Playoff (CFP), the expanding role of television rights deals, realignment among conferences, and an increasing amount of player empowerment, particularly through the transfer portal and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness). As college football continues to evolve, many believe that it would benefit from a centralized governing figure—someone who could handle the sport’s broad challenges and act as a liaison between coaches, players, schools, conferences, and the NCAA.
James Franklin, known for his assertive leadership and candid remarks, believes that the sport needs someone with the authority and vision to unify college football, address its challenges, and ensure its future success. Franklin’s suggestion of Saban, who has been one of the sport’s most successful and influential coaches over the past two decades, was logical to him. Saban’s experience at the highest level of college football, his understanding of the intricate dynamics within the sport, and his strong leadership abilities made him a natural candidate in Franklin’s eyes.
However, Franklin’s comments did not land well with Saban, who made it clear that he did not appreciate being put in the spotlight for a role that wasn’t in line with his current career ambitions. Franklin acknowledged that Saban wasn’t “real happy” about being publicly considered for the position, which could be seen as a reflection of Saban’s reluctance to take on additional responsibilities outside of his current focus on coaching.
Despite Saban’s reaction, Franklin continues to stand by his belief that college football would benefit from a commissioner. He argues that a central figure could help mitigate issues like the increasing disparity between conferences, the lack of uniformity in NIL policies, and the overall growing pains of a rapidly changing sport. A commissioner could help create a more consistent set of rules and regulations for schools and players, while also serving as a mediator to resolve disputes and align various stakeholders with a common goal: growing and preserving the integrity of college football.
While Saban may not be interested in stepping into such a role, the debate about the necessity of a college football commissioner is unlikely to subside. As the sport continues to face new challenges and complexities, the conversation about leadership in college football will remain a critical issue. Whether it is Saban or another figure who takes on this role, the future of college football may very well depend on a strong, unified voice to navigate the changes ahead.
