Alabama coach Nick Saban shocked the college football world Wednesday by calling it a career.
The 72-year-old won seven national titles in his collegiate coaching career, including six with the Crimson Tide, most recently in 2020.
Over 28 seasons—in 1990 with Toledo, from 1995-99 at Michigan State, 2000-04 at LSU and 2007-23 at Alabama—Saban compiled 297 regular-season wins and 19 postseason victories.
What a run it was.
Here are four ridiculous stats to commemorate Saban’s 17-year tenure in Tuscaloosa:
Rings for Everyone
You want to win a championship? Play for Saban.
Every single player recruited by Saban at Alabama who played four years won a national title. That dates back to his first championship at Alabama in 2009 with the likes of star running back Mark Ingram and receiver Julio Jones leading the charge.
In fact, the Crimson Tide losing to Michigan in the 2024 Rose Bowl marked the first time Saban went three straight years at Alabama without winning a championship.
Sheesh.
First-Round Wonders
Saban sent countless players into the NFL over the 17 years he spent on the Alabama sideline. Forty-four players—yes, 44—were selected in the first round.
That means Saban coached 15 more first-round picks (44) than games he lost (29) over his Alabama tenure.
And that’s not even including the likes of edge rusher Dallas Turner, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry and offensive tackle JC Latham, who are expected to be selected in the first round of the upcoming 2024 draft.
Comfy At the Top
Nick Saban spent a total of 109 weeks at the No. 1 spot in the AP poll. That is equivalent to 763 days, or just over two full calendar years.
In his debut season in 2007, Alabama reached No. 16 in the AP poll. But from 2008-22, the Crimson Tide spent at least one week at the top spot and, of course, finished the season there six times.
In 2023, the Crimson Tide never were ranked higher than No. 3. Still, a ridiculous run.
Under the Bright Lights
The 2008 Crimson Tide lost 31–20 in the SEC Championship to quarterback Tim Tebow and the Florida Gators, who were later crowned national champions.
But after that, Saban never lost in the SEC title game again. He beat Georgia four times (2012, ‘18, ’21, ’23), Florida four times (2009, ‘15, ’16 and ’20) and Missouri once (2014).
Add on Saban’s conference titles at LSU in 2001 and ‘03, and the coach finished his career 11–1 in the SEC Championship.
A true champion.
