Nick Saban has clear advice for college athletes focused on NIL money

Seven-time national champion head coach Nick Saban continues to speak out against a concerning trend in the transfer portal and NIL era.

Players are faced with some enticing offers, sometimes eclipsing millions of dollars, to pack up and play elsewhere. It’s a yearly process that is driven by two transfer windows and well-funded collectives across the country.

The resulting shift – at least for some athletes – is prioritizing those monetary opportunities rather than what is best for their career on the field.

And Saban, who won a national title at LSU and six at Alabama before retiring in 2024, believes development has become less of a sticking point, something that he continues to plead with players to avoid.