Ohio State football news: Nick Saban gets completely real on being fired at Ohio State

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Everyone knows that Nick Saban left an unmatched legacy at Alabama. But those outside the college football world might not know that Saban once coached at Ohio State.

He was the defensive backs coach from 1980 to 1981 under head coach Earle Bruce. Interestingly enough, Saban was hired to replace Pete Carroll. However, he was fired in 1981 after engaging in a heated disagreement with Bruce and company over recruiting matters.

Saban recently told this story to Pat McAfee on The Pat McAfee Show. He spoke of his love for Ohio State while taking responsibility for his termination.

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“I got fired when I was a defensive backs coach at Ohio State,”. Saban said. “I actually love Ohio State, and I loved it when I coached there. It was my fault, and I can’t blame anybody else for that”

Bruce was brought in after Woody Hayes was terminated from his job in 1978 after the Charlie Bauman incident at the Gator Bowl.

In the 1981 Liberty Bowl, Ohio State defeated Navy 31-28. Shortly thereafter, Saban was fired.

Saban began his head coaching career at Michigan State, where he coached from 1995 to 1999. Afterward, he coached LSU from 2000 to 2004. In 2003, Saban led the Tigers to the national championship.

He then took a head coaching position with the Miami Dolphins from 2005 to 2006 before landing with the Crimson Tide in 2007.

There, he blossomed, winning six national championships. He finished his collegiate coaching career with 292 wins before retiring in 2024. Saban gave the keys to Kalen DeBoer to carry on the tradition.

Ohio State’s loss turned into Alabama’s ultimate gain.

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