Paul Finebaum speaks to Nick Saban’s changing legacy in the context of the Playoff

Paul Finebaum keeps a pulse on Nick Saban’s legacy as the Alabama coach continues to keep Alabama in the mix for the national championship.

As this week’s SEC Media Days get underway in Nashville, Finebaum spoke on ESPN’s “First Take” about how Saban’s legacy is viewed in the context of the College Football Playoff. If Alabama misses the Playoff for another season, his legacy will be viewed in a different light, Finebaum agreed.

“Nothing is going to take away what he’s accomplished,” Finebaum said. “And for those who don’t follow this closely, he’s won 6 national championships at Alabama since arriving in 2007, he won another one at LSU. But if he is in the same league as somebody who at the end of this season won 3, that’s a big hit on his legacy.”

Finebaum also questioned Saban from last season after Alabama entered the season as nearly unanimously voted as the best team in the land. It also hurt him that Alabama had the best offensive and defensive player in college football in Bryce Young and Will Anderson Jr.

“The defense let him down,” Finebaum said. “There were mental lapses across the board, they had 17 penalties in the Texas game, I think they had just as many against Tennessee.”

Some of the coaching was sub-par, too, Finebaum said, as Alabama starts this season with 2 new coordinators.

Nick Saban’s legacy could be viewed differently if Alabama misses the CFP again this season, according to @finebaum ? pic.twitter.com/6lijtdO09f

— First Take (@FirstTake) July 17, 2023

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.