Nick Saban’s Retirement Opens 30-Day Transfer Window for Alabama Football Roster
Alabama #Alabama
The NCAA transfer portal window will open for an additional 30 days for Alabama football players after news broke of head coach Nick Saban’s retirement.
“Because Alabama played in the College Football Playoff, Crimson Tide players had until Jan. 6 to enter the transfer portal.
“Whenever there’s a head-coaching change — a firing, retirement, or if a head coach leaves for another job — players at that school get a 30-day window to freely enter the transfer portal.”
ESPN’s Chris Low broke the news on Wednesday and added that Saban has already informed the team of his decision.
The 72-year-old Saban just led Alabama to 12 wins, an SEC title and a College Football Playoff appearance. The Crimson Tide entered the CFP as a No. 4 seed before falling 27-20 in overtime to eventual national champion Michigan.
Chris Hummer of 247Sports stated that Alabama has the “most attractive roster in the sport.” It’s easy to see why, as ESPN’s Kevin Clark noted.
With a college football titan in Saban leaving Alabama, it’s certainly possible Crimson Tide players have second thoughts about sticking around. That should be a prevalent thought on many coaches’ minds.
Baltimore Ravens cornerback (and ex-Alabama star) Marlon Humphrey even admitted that he would be taking off if he was in that position.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders also had a few words.
On the flip side, Alabama has been one of the best programs in the nation for nearly the entirety of Saban’s tenure, which began in 2007. It’s one of the most prestigious college football schools in the nation and has been on and off for decades, most notably when Bear Bryant ran the show. Crimson Tide players can ultimately choose to stick around and be part of the program as it enters a new era.
As it stands now, we don’t know what’s going to happen. Maybe there’s a mass exodus following the news. Maybe a few players leave at most. We’ll find out soon enough, though, as the fallout from Saban’s retirement decision develops.