Analyzing team best positioned to fill the void left by Nick Saban

Alabama has been of the class of the SEC since at least 2009, the first national championship the program won under Nick Saban. Everyone else has been playing from behind, even while winning titles of their own. Saban has been the conference’s constant

But with Saban heading into retirement, it’s only fair to think Alabama is going to take multiple steps back. Kalen DeBoer has taken over the program and seen quite a bit of roster turnover. Alabama players have hit the NCAA transfer portal hard, meaning DeBoer already has some ground to make up in the long-term trajectory of the program.

“Kalen DeBoer is now having to play major catchup on the recruiting,” On3’s Jesse Simonton said during Monday’s episode of Andy Staples On3. “He’s three, four, five steps behind what Kirby (Smart), Hugh (Freeze), and Sark (Steve Sarkisian) are doing… There is an opportunity here for one or two programs in the SEC to really make a leap.”

When choosing a specific program that can make the leap, Simonton went with the LSU Tigers.

Georgia was not eligible to be selected considering where they currently stand. Smart’s team has been level, at least, with Alabama over the last three years. A historic winning streak plus back-to-back national championships still have the Bulldogs in the elite tier of college football.

Brian Kelly could be the head coach with the biggest opportunity to grow, maybe taking Alabama’s spot in the SEC hierarchy. The first post-Saban head-to-head matchup will take place in Baton Rouge this season. Something bigger is being built there though, with Kelly making big moves with his staff and in the recruiting world.

“Look at what Brian Kelly has done this offseason,” Simonton said. “He cleaned House — literally. He fired Matt House and his entire defensive staff. He brought in two guys in (Blake) Baker and Corey Raymond that he didn’t deem qualified to be on his Year One staff. Brought them back to LSU. Was able to get Bo Davis from Texas.

“And even though they don’t have an offensive coordinator yet, they have the No. 1 quarterback in the country, the No. 1 player in the country in 2025. They have the No. 1 recruiting class already. It’s early, I know… Brian Kelly went there to win championships, he knows the expectation.”

The last three LSU head coaches have won a national championship, with Saban being the first. Les Miles snagged one and it’s tough to forget Ed Oregeron‘s success with Joe Burrow during the 2019 season. Kelly is expected to do the same at some point.

Multiple teams are looking to capitalize on Saban leaving the SEC and are set up quite nicely. With the way LSU has operated in the past few weeks, the Tigers are looking to pounce quite quickly.