Penn State head coach James Franklin has voiced his opinion that college football would benefit from having a dedicated commissioner, suggesting that former Alabama coach Nick Saban would be an excellent choice for the role.
“I think he’s the obvious choice, right?” Franklin remarked during a recent media session.
Franklin’s comment, made at Penn State’s College Football Playoff quarterfinals media day ahead of the Fiesta Bowl, brought a light-hearted moment as he joked that Saban might not appreciate the suggestion. The sixth-seeded Nittany Lions are gearing up for a matchup against No. 3 seed Boise State on Tuesday.
This discussion arose as Franklin addressed concerns regarding Penn State’s backup quarterback situation following Beau Pribula’s transfer to Missouri just before the CFP commenced. Pribula’s move underscores the challenges players face in the current landscape shaped by the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policy and the transfer portal, which can force athletes into difficult decisions at critical times.
Franklin emphasized that the absence of a centralized leader for college football has left conference commissioners to manage the sport, often resulting in disagreements among leagues that have differing priorities.
“I think one of the most important things that we can do is let’s get a commissioner of college football that is waking up every single morning and going to bed every single night, making decisions that are in the best interest of college football,” Franklin stated.
4
Penn State Nittany Lions
PSU
-11.0
-457
O 53
9
Boise State Broncos
BSU
+11.0
+350
U 53
Saban, who retired at 73, is often regarded as the most successful college football coach in history, boasting seven national championships—six with Alabama and one with LSU.
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