Nick Saban evaluates himself on ESPN College GameDay: 'I'm seeing college football from 1,000 feet'

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban has made a seamless transition from the sidelines to a career in the media this year. Highlighted by joining the desk of ESPN’s College GameDay every Saturday at some of the best atmospheres on campuses across the country.

During his coaching career, Saban was fully locked in and focused on the task at hand. Which clearly worked, as he now goes down widely regarded as the greatest college head football coach of all time. But during The Pat McAfee Show on Friday, he was asked if he enjoys now being able to see the college football landscape from a new perspective.

“I do and I think the thing I enjoy most is it keeps me involved in the game, and you look at the game different,” Saban said. “You know, when you’re coaching a team, you’re looking at everything through a straw. Your team and who you’re playing.”

“But being on College GameDay, for the first time in my life really, I’m seeing college football from 1,000 feet. Looking at all the teams,” he explained. “When I was coaching Alabama, I never knew what Nebraska was like, or Oregon, we didn’t play them. And it’s kind of fun and I like it.”

Saban definitely deserves some fun after many years of being a stern head coach holding his players to the highest standard. But instead of now being the leader of a team and entire program, he’s a part of one of the most iconic groups and entities in sports media.

“I think we have a great team on College GameDay. I enjoy Pat, I enjoy Kirk [Herbstreit], I enjoy all the guys,” Saban said. “So I still feel like I’m a part of the team, which was my biggest fear of getting out of coaching and retiring is not being a part of a team. So all those things are good and I think we can do good things.”

Picking games and being fed tomahawk steaks from McAfee on the GameDay desk are just a few of the perks that come with Saban’s new gig. But he’s also been a part of moments that have been even more rewarding, including a Cal student last weekend kicking a field goal to win $100,000 and $600,000 being donated to Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

“And I want to commend Pat on the fact that he took the the reins on us making a contribution to the people up in North Carolina that are struggling. Shows what kind of compassion he has and how much he cares about for other people and how he’s willing to help. So I’m happy to be a part of that too,” Saban concluded.

Saban and the GameDay crew will be in Eugene, Oregon this weekend for the Ducks Big Ten matchup against Ohio State.