“He wasn't really happy”: James Franklin reveals Nick Saban’s honest thoughts on being the CFB commissioner

James Franklin reiterated the need for college football to have a commissioner in his press conference session ahead of the Orange Bowl. However, the Penn State coach acknowledged that Nick Saban wasn’t thrilled about his name being floated for the role.

Franklin had previously proposed Saban as a potential commissioner for college football in December. While it was an honest thought from the coach, who is hopeful of winning the national championship, Saban didn’t seem particularly pleased with the suggestion.

“I think there's just a ton of things that need to be discussed and looked at," Franklin said about the state of college football. "And I think we need to do it with people that do not feel the pressure from their university or their conference.”

“I was on a call the other day with Nick Saban and he wasn't real happy with me promoting him for the commissioner of college football. But I think we need that. We need somebody that is looking at it from a big picture perspective.”

Strong leadership is crucial as college football navigates a tumultuous and unstructured era in many aspects of its operation.

James Franklin’s previous comment on Nick Saban

The world of college football has witnessed significant changes over the years, placing it in front of unprecedented complexities. This has led to talks of reworking the leadership structure of the landscape, bringing about a singular administrator.

James Franklin has reignited the conversation about the necessity of a commissioner to guide college football through its rapidly evolving landscape after the playoffs commenced, suggesting Nick Saban as a candidate for the role.

“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’s in the best interest of college football,” Franklin said at the Fiesta Bowl media day event ahead of CFP quarterfinal win over Boise State.

“I think Nick Saban would be the obvious choice if we made that decision. Now, Nick will probably call me tonight and say, ‘Don’t do this,’ but I think he’s the obvious choice, right?”

James Franklin's assertion that college football may have outgrown the NCAA's current structure isn't far-fetched. To emulate the organizational and commercial success of the NFL, the sport could benefit from a centralized commissioner.