Rece Davis on Nick Saban coming out of retirement to coach LSU: 'I'd very surprised"

Whether serious or not, Nick Saban is going to be a popular name throughout the upcoming coaching carousel. Especially with a job like LSU open, a place Saban spent five seasons and won a national championship. You certainly know people in Baton Rouge would take him back, even after watching the success in Tuscaloosa.

But would Saban want the job? ESPN’s Rece Davis is not convinced after working with Saban for a couple of years on College GameDay now. Davis acknowledged some jokes have been made on the matter but ultimately, Saban is happy with his decision to retire.

“I’d be very surprised,” Davis said via The Paul Finebaum Show. “I don’t think so. Hopefully, he’s having a great time with us at College GameDay. I think he’s very comfortable in his own skin and with what he’s accomplished and with the decision he made at the end at Alabama… I don’t think he will go back to coaching.”

Even so, the hypothetical game was played by Davis. Many believe Saban got out of coaching due to the modern world of college football, where a lot of emphasis is placed on NIL. Players can move at will through the NCAA transfer portal as well. Quite different than when Saban took over LSU in 2000.

Davis thinks Saban would fit right in and find a way to adapt. Coaching through different eras, no task would be too tall.

“If he did, he’d be fantastic,” Davis said. “I think we’d all know that. I don’t believe for a second — you hear people say sometimes, ‘Well, he couldn’t handle the new environment.’ That’s a bunch of garbage. He can handle any environment, he’s shown that. I think he’s very comfortable doing what he’s doing right now and working in this business and working with us. And I certainly hope so, anyway, because we love having him on the show.”

Tuesday brought the latest information on the LSU coaching search from On3’s Pete Nakos. Plenty of top names will be linked to the job before athletic director Scott Woodward makes a final decision. After all, LSU is one of the top destinations in college football.

Saban will be in Salt Lake City on Saturday with College GameDay. The Utah Utes are set to host the Cincinnati Bearcats in a big-time Big 12 showdown. Davis expects to have Saban on set in the weeks and maybe even years to come.