Nick Saban Gives A Warning to Bill Belichick As He Makes College Football Transition

Nick Saban knows what it takes to win in college football. 

While he has no doubts about Bill Belichick’s football brilliance, he made it clear that even the greatest NFL coach of all time will face a steep learning curve in the college game.

“I think he'll do well,” Saban told "The Next Round Live" during an interview at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham. “But I also think there will be a learning curve in how to coach college players.”

Belichick, who was announced as the new head coach at the University of North Carolina earlier this offseason, is making one of the boldest transitions in football history.

After six Super Bowl titles with the New England Patriots, he’s now taking over a college program that hasn’t won a conference championship since 1980.

Saban’s comments come with the weight of experience. Before retiring in 2024, he built Alabama into a modern dynasty — and spent time in the NFL himself with the Miami Dolphins. 

He understands the difference in managing professional athletes versus 18-year-old kids navigating NIL deals and the transfer portal.

Saban emphasized that Belichick’s football IQ is still unmatched, but warned that success in college means more than scheming. 

Recruiting, development and relationships will define his success at UNC.