Reggie Bush claims Nick Saban ‘can’t handle’ level playing field: ‘NIL ran him away’

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The greatest coach in college football history called it a career on Wednesday after 28 years as a head coach at the collegiate level. 

For the past 17 years, Nick Saban has been the head coach at Alabama, where he led the Crimson Tide to nine SEC titles and six national championships. 

Fox Big Noon Saturday Kickoff analyst Reggie Bush takes photos with fans prior to a college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and Indiana Hoosiers on October 8, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.  (James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

As college football continues to undergo massive changes — such as conference realignment, the transfer portal and name, image and likeness (NIL) — one former college football star believes that the changing landscape is the reason Saban got out when he did.

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"NIL ran him away, he has no more control over 5 star recruits, the playing field is level, and he can’t handle that," former USC star Reggie Bush commented on ESPN’s Instagram post which contained Saban citing his age for the reason behind his retirement. 

Saban told ESPN in a televised interview that his health and that of his wife, Miss Terry, were fine, but the grind of the 2023 season took a little more out of him than usual. 

In an interview with ESPN, Saban, 72, said the changing landscape of the sport had nothing to do with his decision to hang up the headset. 

Head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts prior to a game against the Texas Longhorns at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  (Kevin C.