A deep dive into Nick Saban's approach to Name, Image, and Likeness

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently wrote about Alabama head coach Nick Saban‘s comments regarding name, image, and likeness, saying that the living legend is, ‘scared about what NIL would do to his program, his goals, and his legacy.’

Some, like Florio, took Saban’s comments at SEC spring meetings as a pushback against NIL, when in reality it seems that he’s seeking a more level playing field in the legislation and regulations surrounding name, image, and likeness. On3’s JD PicKell gave his take as well, as he discussed what he believes is Saban’s stance and approach to NIL.

“NIL wasn’t supposed to be a recruiting tool. NIL was put into place, in a rather rushed manner, because we want to be able to compensate athletes at the collegiate level based on their name, image, and likeness,” PicKell explained. “They’re able to get theirs based on the kind of value they’ve been able to create for themselves. It’s not supposed to be a tool where you can just throw a bag at a recruit and try and get them on board, that’s not what NIL was made for. And Nick Saban seeing that is saying okay, we gotta have some regulation here.”

Saban will be present in Washington DC next week, as the SEC’s most prominent coaches and decision-makers will attempt to lobby Congress regarding name, image, and likeness regulations. NIL legislation is currently carried out on a state-to-state basis, and with NIL now being used as a recruiting tool, some states have more flexible or advantageous rules than others.

“He’s been pro NIL from the jump here, he said these athletes should be able to be compensated for their name, image, and likeness. But when you put the right thing in the wrong place, that’s when a conversation has to be had, and that’s why he’s going to DC,” PicKell said. “Not this whole nonsense that somehow NIL is hurting his game on the recruiting trail and now he can’t use his charm and just flash the Bama brand, it’s not how it is.”

There’s no question that NIL has impacted recruiting, but it seems to have only positively impacted Saban, who took home the nation’s top recruiting class in 2023 and is currently on pace to have a top three class in the next two cycles according to On3’s Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Alabama has been at or toward the top of the food chain in the college football landscape under Saban. And while Saban does seek a more level playing field in the NIL space, his program will likely stay towards the top regardless of how things play out in DC.

“And the recruiting rankings reflect that, I think Alabama’s roster will reflect that going forward, and I’m exited to see what Alabama is in the future in the NIL world. Because again, they’re one of the haves when it comes to the college football landscape, NIL is a tool, not an obstacle for Nick Saban,” PicKell said.