It’s going to be a grind until Penn State announces James Franklin’s successor.
What doesn’t help is the mindless drivel that plays out daily on The Pat McAfee Show, where Pat and his crew often go on testosterone-fueled tangents that rarely produce coherent insight.
This week, they brought on their regular guest—former Alabama coach Nick Saban—to discuss the current landscape of college football openings.
At one point, McAfee suggested that some Penn State fans wanted Saban to be the next head coach, and that athletic directors’ ears “perked up” when Miss Terry Saban mentioned she hadn’t “heard a number.”
Saban immediately shut that down.
“No way,” Saban said, emphasizing how much he’s enjoying retirement and his new role in television.
Saban was smart to squash the lunacy that some ESPN personalities seem determined to perpetuate.
Yet there’s still an undercurrent of thinking—that either Saban or former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer could somehow be in play for Penn State.
Neither should be a candidate.
1. Saban’s Age
Saban turns 74 next week. That milestone often marks the start of decline for even legendary coaches. Joe Paterno, Bobby Bowden, Bill Snyder, and Steve Spurrier all saw their programs regress as they entered their 70s.
I lived through the Paterno era—it was painful watching the recruiting misses and in-game miscalculations that were so uncharacteristic of his prime.
Penn State isn’t desperate like North Carolina, which hired 73-year-old Bill Belichick in an attempt to revive its program.
2. Saban Gave Up on College Football Once NIL and the Transfer Portal Took Over
Saban has openly acknowledged that his heart wasn’t in the game after Alabama’s 2024 College Football Playoff semifinal loss to Michigan. He cited frustration with players seeking NIL assurances and guaranteed playing time.
College football has entered a new era of player empowerment—one that demands head coaches adapt to what’s essentially free agency every offseason.
That’s not Saban’s world anymore, and Penn State wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) entertain a coach unwilling to embrace modern realities.
3. Meyer’s NFL Disaster
Meyer’s NFL stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars remains infamous. His tenure lasted just 13 games and ended in disgrace.
Meyer allegedly physically struck kicker Josh Lambo and told him, “I’m the head ball coach. I’ll kick you whenever the f**k I want.”
Reports also detailed verbal abuse toward assistant coaches, multiple practice violations that drew $100,000 in fines, and perhaps most memorably—his decision to skip the team flight home to Jacksonville after a loss, only to be filmed with a woman at his Ohio bar who was not his wife.
Meyer has since admitted his NFL experience was the “worst of his career.” But if he was comfortable enough to strike a professional player, do we really think that was the first time he crossed a line?
Penn State doesn’t need that baggage.
4. Meyer’s “Teflon” College Brand
Despite his tarnished NFL legacy, Meyer’s college reputation somehow remains bulletproof. The controversies at Florida and Ohio State—player arrests, staff scandals, and cover-ups—bounced right off him.
On paper, Meyer’s college résumé is almost flawless: a national championship, a 7–0 record against Michigan, and the foundation for the Ohio State juggernaut Ryan Day inherited.
But let’s be clear—Meyer is Ohio State royalty. I’ve been to his restaurant, Urban Meyer’s Pint House, in Dublin, Ohio. The place is practically a shrine.
With that in mind, is Meyer to Penn State realistic?
5. Their Control-Based Coaching Styles Don’t Work Anymore
Former PennLive columnist David Jones summed up perfectly why Meyer can’t succeed in today’s game:
“I think kids should have that power because otherwise you get Urban Meyers who just coerce these kids into doing exactly what they want because they can hold their scholarship over their head… Urban Meyer couldn’t coach anymore because he doesn’t have that power. He’s one of the biggest pricks that’s ever been involved in college athletics.”
Hard to argue with that. Meyer’s NFL flameout only reinforced the point.
Saban wasn’t much different with the Miami Dolphins—his discomfort with losing control of players pushed him back to college.
Control was their shared superpower. But in today’s era—where relationships, authenticity, and flexibility win recruits—it’s a liability.
Penn State doesn’t need a dictator. It needs a leader who can adapt.
Final Thought
Saban and Meyer defined an era of dominance—but that era is over.
They’re relics of a time when coaches ruled with iron fists and players had no leverage. Today’s college football landscape demands something different: collaboration, creativity, and connection.
Penn State doesn’t need to chase ghosts of the past. It needs to find the next great mind of the future.
