TWSN penned a piece pitching a return to college football return for Nick Saban at FSU -- with the primary reason being making his head-to-head record with Clemson's Dabo Swinney, currently 2-2, a winning one.
"The ACC is a new challenge to Saban to extend his legacy and say he built a championship team in multiple conferences," TWSN's Marissa Myers wrote. "With Clemson as well, given Dabo Swinney still is the head coach after the season, it would give Saban the chance to change the record he has against him of 2-2, and prove he is the better coach between the two record wise to “get-back” at Swinney’s 2-1 record in national title matchups."
This just isn't going to happen. Saban is making $500,000.04 a season to work part-time as a member of Alabama's brain trust. He can still get some shine if the Crimson Tide continue winning but it'll be Kalen DeBoer who gets the blame given the Washington contingent he brought over and implemented in Tuscaloosa if things continue going south. Remember: Saban does spend his Saturdays on College GameDay now.
Also worth mentioning is Saban's vow to continue helping Alabama post-retirement.
"I'm anxious to see that we can do whatever we can to continue to support Alabama athletics and the athletic program and the football program and hope that the players and the coaches that are there continue to have a great amount of success," Saban said after announcing his retirement as head coach (h/t On SI).
Nick Saban is not returning anywhere but Alabama
The most realistic scenario for Saban returning to coaching would be to rescue Alabama from a Tide slide under DeBoer. If he returned to the ACC, he'd be ripped apart for "running away" from the SEC. Saban is not risking that narrative hit.
Swinney isn't bringing back the G.O.A.T. back. If anything, Swinney would be more likely to Saban on the College GameDay set.