James Franklin, head coach of Penn State, is doubling down on his call for a college football commissioner – and he’s got a bold suggestion for the role. Speaking at his Fiesta Bowl media session, Franklin passionately endorsed Nick Saban, the legendary Alabama coach, as the “obvious choice” to take the helm of college football.
“I’ve been saying for a while that we need a commissioner, someone whose sole focus is what’s best for the game,” Franklin stated. “This isn’t just a challenge we can keep talking about; we need solutions. And if there’s one person who could do it, it’s Nick Saban.”
Franklin elaborated on the critical changes he believes a commissioner could implement, such as eliminating conference championships, starting the season a week earlier, and ensuring every conference plays the same number of games. “When teams aren’t competing under the same rules, it’s tough to make fair comparisons,” he said. “Let’s level the playing field.”
He also suggested that starting the season earlier could alleviate some of the academic pressure on student-athletes, an issue Franklin feels is becoming less discussed but still vital.
As for Saban, despite his recent retirement and new role as an ESPN analyst, Franklin feels he’s the perfect fit. “Nick might call me after this and say, ‘What are you doing?’ But honestly, I can’t think of anyone better.”
Saban, 73, with his unmatched six national titles, has already left a legacy as one of the greatest college football coaches. Could leading the sport be his next challenge? Franklin certainly thinks so.
