Nick Saban Says The College Football System He Loved Is Dead During NIL Roundtable With Ted Cruz

Nick Saban doesn't seem very happy with the state of college football.

The former Alabama coach and seven-time national champion recently admitted players demanding more money following a playoff loss to Michigan didn't sit right with him, and there's no doubt NIL played a role in his exit.

The man spent decades living in one world of college football that featured plenty of stability. The NIL combined with the transfer portal has ushered in a new era that is borderline out of control.

Saban made his feelings crystal clear during a Tuesday NIL roundtable.

Nick Saban says the old college football world is dead.

"Well, all the things I believed in for all these years - 50 years of coaching - no longer exist in college athletics. So, it was always about developing players. It was always about helping people be more successful in life," Saban said during the 

The former Alabama coach also stated, "It’s whoever wants to pay, the most money raised, the most money to buy the most players is going to have the best opportunity to win," according to On3. 

Saban continues to smash the warning siren on the state of college football. 

Nick Saban's comments shouldn't surprise anyone who has been paying attention to him since the start of last season. He's been very consistent that something needs to change or the sport is headed for disaster.

"If my voice can bring about some meaningful change, I want to help any way I can, because I love the players, and I love college football. What we have now is not college football -- not college football as we know it. You hear somebody use the word 'student-athlete.' That doesn't exist," Saban told ESPN in December.

He was even more ominous in January during an interview with Pat McAfee. Saban predicted a "thunderbolt" kind of event could blow the sport apart.

While there's plenty to debate on the NIL issue, there's no doubt Saban is correct that the old ways are dead. We're in an era unlike anything that could have been imagined a decade ago. 

Players are now being made huge offers before playing a single snap of college football. That was never the intent of NIL, but it's here to stay unless some major changes are made.

Clearly, Nick Saban wants to see that happen.

Nick Saban is very concerned about the state of college football. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

Let me know at David.Hookstead@outkick.com if you think NIL has gone too far or if you're okay with the current format.