What if Nick Saban Stayed in Miami?

[@G_54-GMG]

Here's an interesting what if: WHAT IF AN ITERATION COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF STARTED EARLY IN 1998?

[@Nohandleentered]

I don’t know about 98, but I went back as far as I could using the top 25 on ESPN (early 2000’s), and to put it short it would have mostly been the same 12-16 teams with little variation. Not even from the G5 rep. And there were years with multiple G5 reps, but after TCU goes to the Big12 that only happened once again in the COVID year. This is also assuming rankings wouldn’t be manipulated like how we saw Boise, and USF and such hit top 5 rankings during the BCS, but now G5’s struggle to crack the top 20. The real interesting thing would be to see what would happen with a non-subjective playoff with clear standards for entry like, must be a league champ, must have at least 10 wins, etc etc etc

[@musyarofah1]

been thinking about this for a while, esp. during March Madness; What if the NCAA pulling the plug on bowl games and creating a playoff system in around 30's or post-WW2.

[@terrancewatts4812]

My friend, you always put out great content. This however, is absolutely amazing! The effects of this decision would have been felt far and wide! I can’t even imagine the football world (college or pro) if Saban stayed in Miami now! Great video!!

[@crosleyjones1144]

Another great video, as always! As a Michigan fan, I have often wondered what our program could have been if Rich Rod went to Alabama and we found someone else. My wishful thinking would push me to believe we could've gotten Saban after Lloyd Carr retired in '07 and avoided the dark ages, however I doubt that scenario would have happened. Oh what could've been

[@stephen84987]

Lmao at “waste consuming panthers”. Took me a second

[@larryconnerjr1835]

As an LSU fan and a saints fan from Louisiana, there’s a bunch of what if’s when it comes to Saban, If he would have never left LSU for the NFL, LSU would have been what Alabama has been for the past 15 years and it would have been a dream come true, but as a saints fan I will always be grateful to the dolphins doctors and coach Saban for not signing Drew Brees cuz without him my saints would have been at the bottom of the NFL the last 20 years instead of winning a superbowl and having the most consistent success in the history of the franchise

[@jordan7172]

Nah even without Brees, Sean Payton would’ve done just fine imo. Probs never a ring, but not the bottom of the league. They had some great defenses as well. And he knew how to use Reggie when he was young and healthy 🤷🏻‍♂️ who dat 😎🤝🏻

[@larryconnerjr1835]

@@jordan7172 Payton would have had to find a franchise quarterback through the draft if we wouldn’t have signed Brees and it would have forced him to draft a quarterback instead of Reggie Bush in that particular draft and the only options that year would have been Vince Young or Matt Lienert which probably wouldn’t have ended well for coach Payton, also I’ve always felt that Darren Sproles and Alvin Kamara were actually better backs in Payton’s system than Reggie who definitely didn’t live up to the hype coming out of college but had a decent career

[@mattstakeontheancients7594]

Honestly had Saban ran for governor think he would have won. When we had an off season and people complained you knew they were newer fans cuz they didn’t watch during the ugly years.

[@markjackson6431]

if Coach Saban stayed in the NFL, he probably has a legacy similar to Coach Carroll. if he had Drew Brees, he probably wins a Super Bowl or two. but he wouldn’t known as the GOAT of college football but just a really great coach (like Pete Carroll). his run at Alabama put him above the greats like Bryant, Bowden, [retracted], Osborne, and Robinson. i don’t think Coach Belichick’s legacy would change that much other than a few less divisional titles.

[@tylerbrown2700]

Saban relied on powerhouse programs to win natties. He didn't build Alabama; he elevated it. He would probably not win a single Superbowl in the NFL because of the greater parity within the league.

[@markjackson6431]

@@tylerbrown2700 alright goal post mover….keep spitting crap out.

[@tylerbrown2700]

@@markjackson6431 Ain't moving a single goal post. You want to know how he would do in the NFL. He would be lucky to remain in it after 5 seasons. He's a GOAT because he had serious advantages in going to Alabama. This is going to anger you, but Jim is a better coach than he ever was. Won with the least amount of blue chips ever. These blue chips are the main reason Saban won.

[@markjackson6431]

@@tylerbrown2700 alright goal post mover….keeping spitting out crap. people like you are funny. y’all be like he had advantage since all the best players came to Bama. despite the fact that Bama hadn’t relevant since the early 90s and the best players came to Bama to player under him. what he should be PENALIZED because great players wanna be coached by him 😂. give me a break you goal post mover.

[@AceManning18]

​​​​@@tylerbrown2700try again. Alabama was a complete joke compared to what they could, and should be. They had gone through multiple coaches in like 6 years, hadn't won the SEC in quite awhile, and were not even close to the recruiting juggernaut they became. He most certainly built them. If it were so easy, Mike Shula would have won. One of the most biased worst takes I've ever heard. And no, before you say it, not even an SEC fan. I'm just not delusional either. They hadn't been consistently good since the early 90s. The SEC at the time belonged to Florida and LSU. to act like all he did was take the keys to a Ferrari just sitting there, and not crash is disingenuous at best. And that's just evidence that anyone with eyes and a brain can see. That fails to mention the time spent with the best coach in history, who swears to this day they don't make the playoffs in Cleveland without Sabans coaching on defense. But no, you're right, you are smarter than nfl coaches with 50+ years in the business. I'll take your word for it. He must be trash because random couch QB on the internet thinks so. 😂😂😂 The conviction you goofballs speak with as if you're actually on a level to speak about living legends knowledge of a game you probably haven't played past the age of 11 is .. strange

[@jayclean5653]

A better video would be what if Nick Saban stayed at Michigan State.

[@terrancewatts4812]

As a Michigan State alum, I agree!

[@MetalGod999]

Another interesting and very informative video by Lukas, as always. 👍👍 But I’ve gotta say something about Nick Saban: I don’t think Saban would’ve lasted as Dolphins head coach for as long as people think. Here’s why: 1: Nick Saban would’ve grown sick and tired of always losing to Tom Brady & Bill Belichick (Yes, the Patriots would’ve still been a Super Bowl championship juggernaut). 2: The Dolphins would’ve grown sick and tired of Saban’s authoritarian dictatorship. Unless your team is winning at a historically great clip, your players are not gonna stand idly by and let you as the head coach constantly wear them out, mentally or physically. I don’t think all the Dolphins players were gonna run through walls for Saban.

[@Collegefootballproductions]

What happened to ur recent conference realignment video?

[@GlorfindelofGondolin]

Fantastic coach. Kind of bummed we won’t get to see more of his Crimson Tide going against Sarkisian’s Longhorns. Those were very fun games to watch. Also, without Saban, it’s very likely Texas would have faced another team and won a national championship in 2009.

[@jocamadad]

I always wondered what Saban could've done at Michigan State if they would've had sense enough to realize who they had and did their best to hold on to him. They weren't far off from being a legit contender when he left for LSU.

[@mrterp04]

Another great video! Have you ever thought about ranking fictional college football teams from movies and tv?

[@lutrid]

I might root for the dawgs but Saban’s truly the greatest coach of all time

[@localforecast554]

Great video, I think Brees would have improved the Dolphins by a couple of wins for a few years but wouldn't have created another AFC East powerhouse. I don't think the Dolphins staff would have turned him into the passing records machine that Sean Payton did in New Orleans and I also think the players would have grown tired, both physically and mentally, of Saban's system ala a Tom Thibodeau. I imagine him leaving Miami around 2011 and returning to college. Probably a massive program, A&M comes to mind. He still ends up creating a powerhouse with 2 or 3 Championships before tiring of the NIL and transfer circus and retiring at the same time.

[@andrewswann2383]

As a Tennessee fan I love this

[@jackmiller-johnston8689]

Depends if Bress gets the OK from team medical. If so, Saban and Drew win a Superbowl before 2011. The Pats have an equal in their division. The Saints don't call NOLA home for much longer after Katrina, moving to LA. So much changes if Saban and Drew are Dolphins

[@americansmark]

Saban is among the greats, but I feel he is still outclassed by Bear Bryant. Certainly before my time, but his legend continues in today alongside the likes of John Madden and Woody Hayes.

[@damonselman636]

I think Rich Rod might have done better at Alabama than Michigan. Fans of the Ann Arbor Astros might be more annoying than Bama fans when their coach is not a “Michigan Man” especially one who ran a very non-Michigan offense. However I think Rich Rod’s ceiling at Bama is Hugh Freeze with Alabama resources.

[@jackinblack19]

So basically happiness levels of dolphin/ gator fans would be drastically higher

[@g_gator_g9417]

"It is entirely likely that in this timeline that another team takes alabama's place. Perhaps today we talk about FLORIDA, Georgia, lsu as the most dominant dynasty in the SEC." Ugh proof I live in the worst timeline where the gators could be running the sec

[@marcusmosiahgarveysr4310]

All things considered, I think everything worked out perfectly for the Miami Dolphins.

[@MrBrranch]

Titans take Leinart. Jeff Fisher, the Offensive Coordinator, and the QB coach were all USC alumns. They all wanted Leinart, but were overruled by Bud Adams who still wished they were the Houston Oilers and wanted the Houston native, Vince Young. imo its also why Vince Young didn't get the development he needed at the Titans because the staff resented having him, but thats just speculation

[@professorcrispy1634]

Probably has a lot more to do with VY’s historically poor work ethic and entitlement

[@gregoryreichart8620]

I loved "Waste consuming Panthers." And I am a Pitt fan.

[@jamesvaughn4126]

U should doing one on what if Steve Spurrier stay at Florida.

[@champan250]

Basically you are saying Saban's Dolphins will be a perennial wild card team. Not like the Patriots swept the dolphins each season anyways, having a strong Miami team will actually help the Patriots in tie-breakers against other AFC division leaders

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

As a Tennessean and a Titans fan I love Vince Young and hate Jeff Fischer

[@bronsonbamnallen1633]

what if he had stayed in Miami…but not with the Dolphins? He should have coached the Canes. I like your Bill Snyder reference. He was the most underappreciated coach in CFB history.

[@phillipwombacher9635]

He is the modern day Tom Osborn the whole football world changed because of Osborne strength and conditioning and recruiting strategy

[@danthebreadboy1006]

As a dolphins fan I still don’t know if Nick Saban would’ve saved us if he stayed longer

[@jab1289]

I think that Saban stays in Miami until Jan. 2010 (with some success), when he and Pete Carroll switch places. Saban takes USC to an even higher level, and Carroll brings the LOB to South Beach to play with Drew Brees. Can you say dynasty?

[@jefferybrown4657]

What if the Ivy League expanded when they were looking into Northwestern and the service academies in the 80s? William and Mary could have gotten involved in that as well

[@canyoncovert7582]

The intro music gave off KTO vibes

[@markjackson6431]

Dead Meat vibes. that dude that does the Kill Count videos

[@elibosley8413]

​@markjackson6431 Glad I'm not the only one 😂

[@alatide6662]

The Dolphins had quit playing in the Orange Bowl by the time Saban coached them. Only the Hurricanes played there at that time.

[@Rysofly]

This is a great concept.

[@dapigbear312]

17:47 I don’t think I’d hire him after the 2010 season if I was Alabama 2011 yes before the orange bowl, but 2010 was god awful for us

[@HiImEden92907]

I wanna say that it would be better if he stayed in the NFL but Kirby Smart probably wouldn’t have come back to Athens if Saben stayed so 🤷‍♀️

[@Dabombchen]

Should've stayed at Toledo 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

[@Kyleterp1]

If that doctor woulda cleared Brees, saban would have had a Super Bowl, the saints would have continued to be a horrific franchise, Sean Payton would have been found out much sooner that he’s a highly overrated coach. The alabama dynasty wouldn’t have existed and the saban college coaching tree wouldn’t have been created. His staff hiring was just as impressive as his coaching/recruiting

[@roseaugatzke7877]

the question should be.........WHAT if Saban never left LSU.........that is the REAL compellng question

[@ZeusAmun-pt9dc]

I have never understood why Rich Rod left wvu he should have spent his whole career there

[@deggs5589]

Probably thought he could never win at WVU and needed a blue chip program. Hindsight obviously proves him wrong but I can’t say I’d have declined the Michigan job in his shoes.

[@bradleyminoski2020]

Because Michigan is 200x times the size of WVU that’s why.

[@jacobunruh9045]

Kill count backing audio lol

[@someperson3883]

What if Saban stayed at LSU

[@noahthomas4341]

rich rod....... bama dodged a bullet... look what he did to michigan

[@buzztp5119]

The guy at Yahoo sports, whose name I don't remember, had a great idea 20 years ago. The conference champs of all 9 conferences and 7 at large bids go into a 16 team playoff. The at large bids would make schools schedule tougher teams instead of creampuffs so they would have a better resume like basketball teams do and every team would rather have a good lose than an easy win. BUT MONEY RUINS EVERYTHING ... and I wish it would ruin me.

[@Rysofly]

He is a college coach and an NFL coordinator at best

[@loucaruso3971]

Well He Screwed Up The Drew Brees Trade !!!! But As College Coach, Unbelievable !!!!

[@Rysofly]

Why get rid of Dave????? Saban did the same or worst.

[@michaeljohn4430]

What if Saban never leaves LSU because of that NFL itch he had to scratch? He is on record as saying that leaving LSU was a mistake. He likely wins even more championships at LSU than he would have at Bama.

[@Rysofly]

Nick Saban paid for those 5 stars..... Mark my words. It'll come out.

[@sadpotato5803]

Mad Miami fan😢

[@Rysofly]

@sadpotato5803 I wasn't thr first person to say this. College coaches have said this too. Are they mad fan too? For the record Miami is a playoff team in good.

[@matthoward9509]

You forgot to mention Ole Miss if Alabama had stayed bad Ole miss would have had a chance to be better the mr footballs that nick saban got out of that state over the years if ole miss got those hugh freeze might have won a national championship or at least appeared in a sec title game.

[@matthoward9509]

Also paul finebaum said something bad about rich rods wife that was controversial.

[@yaboi9419]

Wisconsin would’ve won every national championship from 2010-2024

[@Rysofly]

Miami is just fine now.

[@matthewwelsh294]

But Alabama was not unstoppable. Urban Meyer and Ohio State beat them with a third string QB lol

[@joshgraham8284]

Rich Rod never got a fair shot at michigan