According to numerous sources, Nick Saban is retiring after 28 seasons as an FBS head coach with a 292-71-1 record and seven national championships.
In the Rose Bowl last week, head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines denied Nick Saban an eighth national championship and sent him out on a bittersweet note.
It was an exciting game, with Michigan rallying from a 20–13 hole to win 27–20 in overtime. After an amazing run by Michigan running back Blake Corum gave the team the lead in overtime, the Michigan defense put up a fantastic goal-line stand to stop Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to seal the victory.
The Rose Bowl is a special occasion. Among the most esteemed bowl games in college football history is this one. Fans and members of the media have referred to the game as “The Grandaddiest of them All” for years. The 2018 meeting between the Georgia Bulldogs, ranked third, and the Oklahoma Sooners, rated second, more than lived up to the hype.
This playoff matchup, which had a chance to go to the national championship, was intense from beginning to end. There was no greater contrast between the two teams. The game featured jaw-dropping plays, absurd lead changes, and crucial turnovers due to Georgia’s stifling defense and Oklahoma’s fast-paced offense. It ended in an epic shootout that needed extra time to decide the winner. Georgia was locked at 48 all in extra overtime when they were
Michigan would go on to win the national championship on Monday against Washington while Alabama sat at home and contemplated retirement. Now it appears that contemplation has concluded with multiple reports indicating Saban is retiring.
The fact that Saban’s historic career ended with a loss to the Wolverines makes Michigan’s title run all the more epic and historic, his retirement is now part of Michigan’s championship story. Michigan slayed the beast and showed they could beat the SEC juggernaut Crimson Tide when almost every pundit and talking head had their money on Saban and Alabama. See ya, Nick.
