James Franklin Advocates for Nick Saban as College Football's First Commissioner

The Penn State coach highlights the need for unified leadership in college football, with Saban as his top choice to address challenges like NIL, the transfer portal, and conference realignment.

James Franklin, head coach of Penn State, has called for the creation of a commissioner role to oversee college football, citing the sport's growing challenges and lack of unified leadership.
Franklin endorsed retired Alabama coach Nick Saban as the 'obvious choice' for the role, emphasizing his experience and dedication to the sport’s interests.
The push for a commissioner comes as college football faces issues such as the transfer portal, NIL policies, and the complexities of conference realignment and playoff expansion.
Other coaches, including Lane Kiffin of Ole Miss, have also supported Saban for the role, while Boise State’s Spencer Danielson suggested former coach Chris Peterson as an alternative candidate.
Franklin proposed additional reforms, including eliminating conference championship games and standardizing league schedules, to create a fairer and more academically aligned system.