For a little while, even if it always felt like a long shot, LSU football fans had outside hope that maybe, just maybe Nick Saban could be convinced to come back to Baton Rouge to take over the program now that Brian Kelly has been fired. Well, it's not going to happen.
The dark horse LSU football coach candidate more people need to talk about
Even if Shaq got people talking earlier this week about Saban, Verge Ausberry has thrown cold water all over that idea. On Tuesday, Ausberry definitively stated that Saban won't be taking over as the new LSU head coach. Sorry if that's not the news you were hoping for, LSU fans:
Verge Ausberry says on Matt Moscona show that no way Nick Saban will come back to college coaching. "I think that has run its course," though he said he and Saban talk every few weeks. #LSU
— Scott Rabalais (@RabalaisAdv) November 4, 2025
Verge Ausberry threw cold water all over Nick Saban rumors with LSU
Open and shut case. While Saban isn't going to be making a comeback that would have broken the internet, there are still plenty of exciting candidates for the Tigers to take a serious look at. The list of course includes Lane Kiffin, Jon Sumrall, Joe Brady and others.
There's been plenty of buzz surrounding Sumrall of late, though people aren't ready to give up on Kiffin just yet. Unfortunately for the LSU faithful, there's been plenty of speculation that Kiffin is either going to take the Florida job or stay put in Oxford with Ole Miss.
Despite that, the expectation is that LSU is still going to take a swing at Kiffin and the other coaches high on their board. Saban is the college GOAT and no one will ever take that title away from him. With that said, Saban recently celebrated his 74th birthday and he probably is enjoying having fun on GameDay and spending more time with his family.
Did we ever think he was a serious possibility for LSU? It was fun to think about, but again, it was always going to be a long shot. Moving forward, Ausberry and the rest of his team at LSU will keep working overtime in finding a new head coach that can make people forget all about the Kelly nightmare. With Ausberry admitting that he and Saban are still in contact quite a bit, hopefully the old ball coach gives LSU some sound advice on who they should go after.