Alabama fans may not want to hear this, but it’s inevitable, Nick Saban is going to retire at some point. While many have pegged Clemson head coach, and former Alabama player, Dabo Swinney as Saban’s eventual successor, many are also beginning to believe the Tiger coach would not leave the incredibly successful program he’s helped build in South Carolina to return to Tuscaloosa.

Count ESPN College GameDay host and college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit falling into the naysayer category. Asked recently if he thought Swinney would take the Alabama job, presumably when Saban retires/leaves, Herbstreit said no.

After his playing career ended in Tuscaloosa, Swinney served as an assistant coach for the Tide for eight seasons. Swinney left Alabama to become the receivers coach at Clemson in 2003 and has been with the school ever since. In his eight seasons as the Clemson’s full-time head coach, Swinney has won three ACC titles, making two national championship game appearances both, of course, against Alabama. Swinney has managed to achieve double-digit victories every season since 2011.

Follow Michael Wayne Bratton / SEC Mike on Twitter.