Nick Saban Dec 4, 2021; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban celebrates after a victory against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The landscape of collegiate sports has been a big topic in recent years, particularly with the changes to the transfer portal that allows athletes to play immediately after transferring.

This along with the implementation of NIL deals has changed how coaches in college sports are recruiting.

Notable names like Ole Miss Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin have spoken out against the new rules, calling it a type of free agency within collegiate sports.

Alabama coach Nick Saban echoed Kiffin’s sentiments on Wednesday when he discussed the topic in an interview with the Associated Press.

“I don’t think what we’re doing right now is a sustainable method,” Saban said. “The concept of name, image, and likeness was for players to be able to use their name, image, and likeness to create opportunities for themselves. That’s what it was. So last year on our team, our guys probably made as much or more than anyone in the country.”

“That creates a situation where you can basically buy players. You can do it in recruiting. I mean, if that’s where we want college football to be, I don’t know. And you can also get players to get in the transfer portal to see if they can get more someplace else than they can get at your place.”

Saban then went on to say that they now have an NFL model in college football and that players are choosing whatever programs will pay the most instead of what program can best develop players.

He is absolutely right, but now that the wheels are in motion for NCAA athletes getting paid, it appears that it will be hard to regulate or stop it in any manner.

College football has always been the big market sport on par with professional sports in terms of revenue and business anyways, and it finally seems like everyone is understanding that they are pretty much semi-professionals in their own right.

Saban has always been one to adjust to the college athletics landscape as it evolves, so don’t expect Alabama to be doing anything different than any other team as NIL deals and transfer portal decisions continue in widespread fashion.

[On3, Associated Press]

About Reice Shipley

Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.