‘Why Should Players Accept Financial Guardrails?’ ‘Protecting the Powerbrokers’ — Podcast Host Rips Nick Saban for Supporting Protect College Sports Act
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Former Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban has publicly supported the Protect College Sports Act, which passed the Senate 77-22 on Monday. While the bill would place federal limits on certain school-paid and associated-entity athlete compensation, an amendment to cap coaches’ salaries at $5 million annually failed to pass.
Saban has since argued that player and coach compensation operate in “totally different markets” and suggested that schools control coaching costs through shorter contracts and smaller buyouts rather than a salary cap.
His stance has drawn backlash from fans and analysts, including Ben Maller, a podcast host.
Ben Maller Slams Nick Saban for Divisive PCSA Support
During Wednesday’s segment of the “Ben Maller Show,” Maller was highly critical of Saban for pushing a narrative that he believes would protect the current power brokers in college sports rather than student-athletes.
“So, Nick Saban is banging the drum for government oversight to help out the NCAA and give the screw job to the students who are playing football,” Maller began.
“Why should players accept financial guardrails when coaches don’t have to? Obviously, they shouldn’t. Capitalism, of course, is a wonderful thing until the wrong people start making money and then you have to complain and change the rules.”
Maller then turned his attention to Saban’s argument that smaller programs need financial guardrails to remain competitive in college sports.
“So, Nick Saban is telling us that the players need a salary cap. That college football and basketball, that these smaller schools can’t compete, so they have to have a salary cap,” he said.
“But the coaches, if you have to pay Jimbo Fisher $14 million a year for 3-4 years, that’s just life in the big city. Makes perfect sense. Until you realise the whole thing is fugazi.” Fisher’s actual buyout terms called for an initial payment of roughly $19.2 million, followed by annual payments of about $7.2 million through 2031.
PREDICT THE CFB SEASON:PFN’s Free CFB Playoff Predictor
“Saban’s out there doing his thing. It’s not about saving college football, it’s about protecting the powerborkers who already control college football. They are worried about losing control.”
Saban was among the sports figures invited to a White House college-sports roundtable hosted by President Donald Trump on March 6. The former Crimson Tide coach has also been vocal about the chaos that has overtaken the industry.
The seven-time national championship-winning coach has also dismissed speculation that he retired in 2024 because of the changes and uncertainty surrounding college sports.
DIVE IN:PFN’s Free CFB HQ — Team and Player Stats, Info, and More
In broad strokes, the PCSA would establish federal limits and rules governing school-paid athlete compensation and revenue sharing while preserving athletes’ ability to enter legitimate third-party NIL deals.
The PCSA faces a narrow window in the House during the post-election lame-duck session. If it is not enacted before the current Congress ends on Jan. 3, 2027, the legislative process would have to begin again in the new Congress.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos