Thursday, November 5, 2026

Nick Saban to Join Set of College GameDay

  • Former Alabama coach becomes sixth member of ESPN’s flagship college program.
  • Saban will also contribute to ESPN’s NFL draft coverage.
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban does his traditional walk around at Bryant-Denny Stadium before a game against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Gary Cosby Jr.-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

Nick Saban is trading the headset for a microphone. 

The legendary Alabama coach, who retired after the Crimson Tide lost to Michigan in the Rose Bowl, will join the set of College GameDay for the 2024 season, ESPN announced. Saban will also contribute to ESPN’s NFL draft coverage, though his start is still being determined. 

“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. “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 won seven national championships over his 28-year coaching career, six at Alabama and one at LSU. The Tide were a touchdown away from playing Washington in the national championship game but came up short in overtime. He joins a cast that already adjusted well to a newcomer last season in Pat McAfee, along with staples Rece Davis, Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, and Kirk Herbstreit. 

In the past, Saban had a regular Thursday spot on McAfee’s radio show and filled in as a guest analyst for ESPN’s college football coverage, making him no stranger to his new colleagues or employer. As a coach, Saban was a bit of a mixed bag with the media. He could be anything from adversarial, funny, difficult, or insightful without much warning. During his later years, he became friendlier with the media. Now he’s one of them. 

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

LPGA golfers pose for a photo during WTGL Media Day at SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida on September 20, 2026.
First at FOS

WTGL’s First Season Will Pay Players $11M in Prize Money

Individual player payouts will be tied to team finish and player participation.
ESPN analyst Pat McAfee broadcasts live from the sidelines of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA prior to the start of the Pittsburgh Panthers vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish game on November 15, 2025.
Opinion

How Did Pat McAfee Get So Polarizing?

Some of the criticism is self-inflicted. Some of it is unfair.
Apr 12, 2014; Tallahassee, FL, USA; The Florida State Seminoles logo before the start of the spring game at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State’s Coach Search Puts Roster Budget in Focus

Portal planning is already underway ahead of the Jan. 4 window.

Multiple States Ban Transgender Athletes From Women’s Sports

Arizona and Nebraska passed measures banning transgender athletes from girls sports.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

11/5/26 – Owners’ $100M Midterm Miss, College Sports Bill’s Uncertain Future, Peyton Tops ‘MNF’ List

0:00

Featured Today

Pickering High School North

High School Athletic Directors Say They’re Running ‘Mini Colleges’

ADs are managing a growing list of demands from athletes and parents.
October 30, 2026

How Injuries Hit Pro Marathoners in the Wallet

Staying healthy can get expensive—quickly.
Football - NFL - Houston Texans v Jacksonville Jaguars - Wembley Stadium, London, Britain - October 18, 2026 The necklace of a Jacksonville Jaguars fan outside the stadium before the match
October 21, 2026

Die-Hard Sports Fandom Has Reached the Afterlife

Will fans pay $6,000 to memorialize their team loyalty?
October 20, 2026

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.

College Football TV Ratings Remain Down 11% Through October

Four games total have drawn an audience of 10 million or higher.
Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; The ESPN logo at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Exclusive
November 3, 2026

ESPN Hires The Athletic Editorial Director Sergio Gonzalez

The move comes three months after ESPN eliminated Roxanna Scott’s editor-in-chief role.
Oct 31, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries players hold the trophy after winning the 2026 WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center
November 3, 2026

WNBA Finals Game 7 Draws 3.3M Viewers

The series averaged nearly 1.9 million viewers, the most for a Finals.
Sponsored

How Jeremy Bloom Is Reinventing the X Games

Jeremy Bloom discusses transforming the X Games into a global brand.
Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) talks to CW sports after the game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, November 22, 2025.
First at FOS
November 3, 2026

The CW Eyes TNT Sports Rights and More CFP Games

TNT Sports’s portfolio includes the NHL, MLB, and French Open.
Jul 11, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; ESPN reporter Michael Wilbon prior to the Phoenix Suns against the Milwaukee Bucks in game three of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2026

Michael Wilbon Takes Indefinite Leave From ESPN, PTI for Health Reasons

The longtime “PTI” cohost insists he’s not retiring.
February 20, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; TNT broadcaster Ernie Johnson Jr. after the 2022 NBA All-Star Game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
November 2, 2026

Ernie Johnson Wants NBA to Cut Regular Season Below 82 Games

The TNT Sports host specifically pointed to the Thunder’s recent injuries.
Mar 29, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; View of a camera with a Fox Sports logo before the game between the Houston Astros and the New York Mets at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
November 2, 2026

Fox Rides World Cup to $4.57B Quarter As Thanksgiving Hopes Fade

The network’s holiday hopes are dimming with a less attractive NFL matchup.