In a surprising turn, college football’s seen a real spike in mid-season firings among Power Four coaches. Folks are pointing to the pressures of the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era as a big reason for this shift.
Legendary former Alabama head coach Nick Saban has weighed in, saying wealthy boosters and the pressure they put on athletic directors are fueling the trend. It’s a messy situation, and Saban doesn’t sound thrilled about it.
The Surge in In-Season Firings
The 2023 college football season’s been especially chaotic. Nine FBS coaches lost their jobs mid-season, with six of those firings happening in the Power Four conferences.
Among the most talked-about dismissals were Florida’s Billy Napier and Colorado State’s Jay Norvell. Both were shown the door after Week 8, which caught a lot of people off guard.
High-Profile Firings
Penn State’s longtime head coach, James Franklin, was fired after a tough three-game losing streak in Big Ten play. That move shocked a lot of fans, especially considering Franklin’s track record with the Nittany Lions and big bowl game appearances.
Penn State now owes Franklin roughly $49 million in buyout money. That’s the second-largest buyout in college football history—yikes.
Other notable firings include:
- Arkansas’ Sam Pittman
- Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy
- UCLA’s DeShaun Foster
- Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry
- Stanford’s Troy Taylor (fired in March after allegations of bullying)
Nick Saban’s Perspective
Nick Saban, now working as an ESPN College GameDay analyst, hasn’t held back his criticism. In a recent chat with ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Saban said the rise in firings is tied to wealthy boosters throwing around big money for NIL and revenue-sharing deals.
He thinks these boosters expect a say in how things run, which just ramps up the pressure on athletic directors. If things don’t go perfectly, changes come fast—maybe too fast.
Saban’s Critique of Franklin’s Firing
Saban was especially blunt about James Franklin’s firing, calling it *unfair as hell*. He pointed out Franklin’s big accomplishments, like leading Penn State to the College Football Playoff final four and a No. 2 ranking.
According to Saban, Franklin raised expectations at Penn State, and instead of gratitude, he got the boot. Saban didn’t mince words—he thinks that’s just not right.
The Impact of NIL on College Football
The NIL era has totally changed the game. Players can finally profit from their name, image, and likeness, and that’s improved their quality of life.
But it’s not all sunshine. Coaches and programs now face even more pressure to land top talent and keep boosters happy. If a coach can’t deliver fast, their job’s suddenly on the line.
Potential Future Firings
There’s still a lot of season left, and rumors are swirling about who might be next. Coaches like Auburn’s Hugh Freeze, Florida State’s Mike Norvell, and Wisconsin’s Luke Fickell are all feeling the heat.
Their athletic directors say they’re standing by them, but let’s be honest—the pressure isn’t going anywhere.
Finding a Balance
Nick Saban says the system needs a rethink. He wants a better balance between helping players and managing all the financial and competitive stress swirling around the sport.
*It’s really different,* Saban told ESPN. *Not in a good way from a developmental standpoint; a good way from a quality-of-life standpoint (for the players). But we need to find a system that improves the quality of life of players but still focuses on the right stuff — development, getting an education, all those kinds of (things).*
The Road Ahead
The NIL era’s still shifting, and honestly, college football’s got some figuring out to do. Finding a path that actually works long-term? That’s no small task.
In-season firings are popping up more and more. It’s a sign that financial pressures are clashing with the need to develop both players and coaches.
The sport’s got to adapt to these new realities. But at the same time, it can’t just toss out its core values or forget about fairness for everyone involved.
Curious about how NIL is shaking things up and what Nick Saban thinks? Check out the full article on On3.
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