Overview
- Shaquille O’Neal told Us Weekly he “heard through the grapevine” LSU had conversations with Nick Saban about the coaching vacancy.
- Ausberry said on ESPN 104.5 that he speaks with Saban every two to three weeks and stated, “No way he’s coming back to football,” citing Saban’s own joking and family stance.
- Nick Saban has publicly said he has no plans to coach again and used College GameDay to stress that traditional jobs must adapt to NIL and transfer‑portal realities.
- ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit reiterated that Saban is enjoying retirement and is not entertaining coaching jobs, a message amplified by Saban’s daughter on social media.
- The search follows LSU firing Brian Kelly after the Texas A&M loss and the subsequent resignation of AD Scott Woodward under political pressure, with reports placing Kelly’s negotiated buyout at about $27 million.