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Why a LSU, Saban reunion makes sense if legendary HC returns
Nick Saban. John David Mercer-Imagn Images

Why a LSU, Nick Saban reunion makes sense if legendary HC returns

Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy may have dropped the scoop the summer at SEC Media Days when he claimed that he spoke to a source "in the know" who suggested that legendary college football coach Nick Saban may come back to coaching.

Saban retired in January 2024 and was replaced by Kalen DeBoer at Alabama. This was after a magical run in Tuscaloosa that saw Saban go 206-29 and win six national championships with the Crimson Tide.

It was a legendary run, but it's easy to forget that Saban's first championship win actually came with one of Alabama's biggest rivals. Before he became an icon in Tuscaloosa, Saban brought a national title to Baton Rouge, leading LSU to a national championship in 2003.

If Saban does indeed return to college football, could a reunion with LSU be in the cards? Who knows what will happen, but it's worth noting that a recent CBS Sports ranking of the best landing spots for Saban has the Tigers No. 1 on the list.

"Am I the only one who sees this as obvious?" wrote Tom Fornelli. "Every other school I've mentioned presents Saban the opportunity to compete for or win national titles, but LSU is the only school other than Alabama that Nick Saban has won a national title at. He doesn't need to envision it here. He has the recipe. Plus, if there's a school out there willing to make a move like this, it's LSU."

That's an intriguing set up, but Fornelli does have a point.

Part of the reason that Saban retired is that he grew tired of the new era of recruiting, which has become even more so 24/7 thanks to NIL deals and the transfer portal.

He won't be able to get away from that if he comes back to coaching, but at least at LSU, he has a comfortable environment to dip his toes back into the water at. He also knows how to recruit at LSU, and the Tigers brand speaks for itself. Part of that is Saban's doing, by the way.

Yes, current HC Brian Kelly is under contract until the 2031 season, but if Saban was really on the line, the Tigers would absolutely thinking about ditching Kelly in a hurry.

Yes, he's a strong coach and good recruiter, but he's failed to make the College Football Playoff over his first three seasons in Baton Rouge, and Kelly has always been criticized for his inability to win the big game.

That may not change anytime soon in an SEC that now features Texas and Oklahoma alongside the usual stalwarts.

If, and this is a big if, Saban wants to come back, Fornelli is right. LSU would make a ton of sense. 

The move would also make sense for the Tigers as well.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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