Paul Finebaum: Alabama win Monday night changes conversation around Nick Saban greatness

With a victory in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship, Nick Saban would secure his eighth title. If he’s able to do so, Paul Finebaum believes Saban can enter uncharted waters.

In an appearance on ESPN’s Sportscenter on Sunday, Finebaum stated a win Monday changes the conversation around Saban’s greatness.

“I think we would be having a different type of conversation,” Finebaum stated, regarding how Saban would be remembered with a win on Monday. “We have already acknowledged he’s the greatest football coach of all time, and at 70 that’s really saying something. But a win Monday night opens up another conversation. Is he, or should he be considered, one of the greatest, or if not the greatest, coach of all time in any sport? That’s really saying a great deal when you consider John Wooden has ten national championships at UCLA. [Bill] Belichick, of course, six with New England.

“But I think this is a different type of conversation. And considering that he has more room, maybe more championships down the road, I think it’s one we’ll be addressing very quickly.”

As you can see, Finebaum believes Saban’s greatness will exceed the confines of college football with another championship on his resume. Not only will he add to his claim of being the greatest college football coach to ever step foot on the field, but he’ll challenge coaches from all sports as the greatest to ever enter the profession.

With eight championship rings over different eras of the sport, Saban will have as good of a claim to the throne as any coach. Still, he first has to get through Georgia in the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday.

Finebaum: ‘If Saban wins Monday night, I think he has 2-3 more in him.’

Furthermore, Finebaum believes the dynasty will keep on rolling if Alabama comes out on top on Monday.

“I thought three years ago when he lost by 28 to Clemson that maybe things were starting to tighten for his future, but he has shattered that myth right now,” Finebaum said, Friday on ESPN’s First Take. “He won last year in a COVID year, he could win this year. He’s 70 years old and only Bobby Bowden has won a national championship at that age.

“If Saban wins Monday night, I think he has 2-3 more (championships) in him. And why not? A lot of people are saying, ‘Why don’t you walk away?’ Well, why would you walk away when you have Bryce Young coming back? He’s the best player in college football.”

Then, Finebaum doubled down. Saban has the Heisman Trophy winner under center in Bryce Young and other impressive playmakers on both sides of the ball. Who’s to say Alabama can’t run it back again next year?

“I think the window is wide open for him to keep piling on,” Finebaum said. “And he’s not only the best coach in college football history. We’re beginning to think about him as the greatest coach in any sport if he wins again Monday night.”