The new era is causing friction.
Why Kirk Herbstreit says Nick Saban is college football's final hope originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kirk Herbstreit believes college football is nearing a breaking point. But he also says that only one figure has the credibility and influence to guide the sport’s future.
During an appearance this week on The Dan Patrick Show, the ESPN analyst delivered a serious critique of how the sport is currently governed, arguing that its leadership structure has failed to keep pace with a rapidly evolving game.
Herbstreit said the College Football Playoff has reshaped priorities, but not its oversight. The conference commissioner remain focused on regional interests rather than the sport as a whole.
“I think right now, we’re still legislating the sport as if it were the 1980s,” Herbstreit said. He noted that bowl centric traditional thinking no longer reflects reality in the CFP era. Team aren't happy just to be offered a postseason spot. Player opt out, and in Notre Dame case this past season, it's not good enough without a playoff berth.
According to Herbstreit, college football lacks a centralized authority capable of rising above conference politics and self-interest. It's a void he believes can only be filled by Nick Saban.
“My only hope is Nick Saban, truly,” Herbstreit said, pushing back on the idea that Saban’s perspective is shaped solely by his long tenure at Alabama. “He’s got a college football twist. He cares about the players. He cares about the sport.”
Despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding NIL and the transfer portal, Herbstreit said that fan interest remains strong, citing massive television ratings and packed stadiums nationwide.
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That disconnect between booming popularity and structural inequality is what concerns him most. Saban has become increasingly vocal in policy discussions and government circles since retiring from coaching. Herbstreit believes can help bring clarity to a fragmented system between many levels.
For now, the confidence in college football’s future rests with one of its most powerful voices, at least according to a top analyst.
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Category: General Sports
