Texas Football: Steve Sarkisian tabbed as possible Nick Saban replacement

News that shocked the entire college football landscape, including the Texas football program, was announced late in the afternoon of Jan. 10. ESPN's Chris Low reported on Jan. 10 that longtime legendary Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban informed his team that he is retiring following the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Saban retires as arguably the greatest college football head coach of all time. He recorded a record of 292-71-1 over nearly three decades as a college football head coach. Saban coached at Alabama for 17 seasons, LSU for five, Michigan State for five, and one for Toledo.

No college head coach has more national titles and SEC Championships than Saban. He retires with seven National Championships and 11 SEC titles over 22 years coaching in the conference.

Amid the fallout of the news of Saban's retirement on Jan. 10, among the biggest questions being asked is the list of coaching candidates to replace him at Alabama. One of the names that is occasionally being brought up in various fan and media circles amid the conversation in the immediate aftermath of this news is Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.

Media outlet names Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian among the candidates to replace Nick Saban at Alabama

Athlon Sports tabbed Sarkisian among the potential candidates to watch on the shortlist to replace Saban at Alabama this offseason. Athlon mentioned the ties Sarkisian had to Saban when he was Alabama's offensive coordinator and an analyst in the mid-to-late 2010s and in 2020.

Sarkisian has proven himself to be able to lift even the biggest of college football programs up to new heights. In just three years at Texas, he's led the Longhorns to a Power Five conference championship, a dozen wins, and the program's first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Sarkisian and the Longhorns also topped Saban and the Tide when these two teams met on the field in Tuscaloosa in Week 2 of the 2023 season. Texas became the first team to beat Saban and the Tide by double digits in Tuscaloosa during his tenure at Alabama.

The other candidates mentioned by Athlon among the potential replacements for Saban at Alabama are Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, Penn State head coach James Franklin, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney.

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