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Nick Saban is sending out a warning signal to all.
With the college football transfer portal opening Friday, people can only expect “chaos” to ensue.
“OK, so chaos in college football starts tomorrow, the portal,” Saban said Thursday on ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast before the three College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
“There’s all already been 120 starters say they’re getting in the portal from big Power 4 schools.”
Nick Saban speaks during a news conference announcing his minority ownership of the Nashville Predators at the NHL hockey team’s facilty Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. APThe portal season, which runs from Jan. 2-16, is expected to answer many questions that have NFL draft implications — such as if Oregon quarterback Dante Moore or Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson will jump to the next step, along with the sixth-year redshirt request for Ole Miss signal caller Trinidad Chambliss.
With Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza expected to declare, Indiana will be on the hunt for a new leader under center.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel has reported the Hoosiers likely have eyes on TCU’s Josh Hoover, along with Kentucky.
One name that is seemingly at the top of the portal is Cincinnati’s Brendan Sorsby, who has been linked to LSU, Texas Tech, and Miami, per Thamel.
Across 12 games, the junior has completed 207 passes for 2,800 yards and 27 touchdowns and five interceptions.
He has led the Bearcats to a 7-5 record with a final bowl game awaiting against Navy on Jan. 2.
Saban is wrapped up in all the possibilities on the table — even beyond the players.
“So what happens if Ole Miss wins and Oregon wins [Thursday]?” the former Alabama and LSU head coach asked in reference to the CFP quarterfinals. “So Oregon’s got two coordinators trying to take guys from their team to their team and guys from other teams to their team, and Ole Miss has got six coaches going to LSU trying to take guys to LSU from their team, but they got to play again. So now is that chaos, or is that chaos?
“This whole college football calendar needs to change.”
Oregon’s offensive coordinator Will Stein and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi are being tugged in two different directions as they have both accepted head coaching gigs at Kentucky and Cal, respectively.
To avoid all the mess, Saban has proposed that the college football calendar needs to match up with the academic calendar and open in May.
Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Brendan Sorsby (2) runs with the ball during the second half against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect“Unless they make the portal in May, which I’ve said before, to kind of match up with the academic calendar, change spring practice till after that, so that you can get your team together and work over the summer, just like an NFL team does,” he went on.
“They don’t have their team together until after the draft, after free agency, it’s May. So do the same thing in college football, and you wouldn’t have these issues with coaches changing jobs, because everybody could finish the season with their team, which is what’s best for the players.”
Additionally, Saban said the NCAA needs “antitrust legislation” because the organization doesn’t know how to “enforce their own rules.”
With all his thoughts in place, Saban said he would be willing to discuss these ideas with the powers that be, when asked by analyst Kirk Herbstreit.
“I would really love to do it for the sake of the players in college football,” Saban said.
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