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There are several high-profile college football coaching jobs available midway through the 2025 season — and all-time great coach Nick Saban is a popular name floated as a potential candidate. Before his dynastic run with the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Saban spent five seasons as head coach of the LSU Tigers — who are now on the hunt for their next program leader following the dismissal of Brian Kelly. In a recent interview with US Weekly, LSU basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal said his alma mater has reached out to Saban about coming back to Baton Rouge to lead the football program. “I heard through the grapevine that they were having conversations with Nick Saban,” O’Neal said. “That’d be awesome if we can bring Nick back.” Saban retired from coaching after the 2023 season. The 74-year-old former coach now works as an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay.” NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 25: (L – R) Nick Saban and Kirk Herbstreit during ESPN’s College GameDay at Vanderbilt University on October 25, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) More Football: 49ers End Speculation With Firm QB Decision Between Brock Purdy, Mac Jones Saban’s ESPN coworker Kirk Herbstreit threw cold water on these coaching rumors during a recent episode of “Nonstop with Kirk and Joey.” “You couldn’t pull Nick Saban off the ‘GameDay’ desk,” Herbstreit said. “… We’ve got to stop bringing up Nick Saban for all these coaching jobs. He’s not going anywhere. My man is enjoying his life. “He told me, ‘For 50 years I’ve been in a hurry.’ …. Now he’s on a boat, he’s golfing… He is not coaching… He’s the happiest he’s probably been in a long, long time.” Coach is living the good life 🏌️♂️🚤 #nonstop pic.twitter.com/ma6CmKTd4e— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 4, 2025 More Football: George Pickens Likely Facing Additional NFL Punishment for ‘MNF’ Incident Saban directly addressed the LSU coaching rumors this past weekend. “You’ve got all these external factors that are constantly changing,” Saban said. “Some of the traditional jobs, like LSU, that people always looked at as one of the best jobs — have they adapted to all these things like they need to?” Saban, Herbstreit and the ESPN “College GameDay” crew will travel to Lubbock for a highly-anticipated matchup between the No. 8 BYU Cougars and No. 9 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday.
