The only other question that looms larger in Tuscaloosa than who will start at quarterback in the fall is how long will Nick Saban continue to coach at Alabama. With the school announcing a new one-year extension last week, that extends Saban’s current deal with the school to eight years total, the 66-year-old coach could conceivably coach the team until he is 74.

Keep in mind that Steve Spurrier is the only coach to ever lead an SEC program into his 70s.

Could Saban realistically remain in Tuscaloosa that long? During his latest ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM show, former Alabama quarterback and ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy shared his thoughts on Alabama’s one-year extension with Saban.

“It’s going to be one of those things where he wins a championship, I don’t think he’ll ever go out having not won one — knowing how much that would probably stick with him,” McElroy said on his show. “So he’s going to win a championship, retire pretty abruptly… It’s interesting to me that he’s signed up for this long.”

Saban will turn 67 during the upcoming season and has been consistent in his belief that he can continue to coach for several years to come. Does the fact that Georgia is rising in the East play into Saban’s decision? Will it motivate him to stay in Tuscaloosa longer?

Here is a clip of McElroy’s thoughts from his show on Monday: