Alabama Football: Nick Saban and ‘Touchdown Jesus’

Hold on Alabama Crimson Tide fans for a BOLD claim. In the 2029 Alabama football season, the Crimson Tide is expected to open with Notre Dame at South Bend. Based on Nick Saban’s recent contract extension, I fully expect the GOAT will be on the Tide sideline as Head Coach.

And wouldn’t it be so fitting, that a man of the Catholic faith would begin a final coaching season, under the gaze of Notre Dame’s Touchdown Jesus?

‘Touchdown Jesus’ is actually named the Word of Life mural. It is 132 feet high and can be seen over the North end zone of the Notre Dame stadium.

Back in 2019, I made the claim Alabama football fans could count on Nick Saban coaching in the 2026 season. In Sept. 2026, the Alabama Crimson Tide will travel to Morgantown, WV. Morgantown is not far from Saban’s home town and there will be scores of West Virginia residents, who are Nick Saban fans, in attendance. There is no way short of debilitative health or death that Nick Saban does not coach that game and through the 2026 season.

The following September, West Virginia comes to Tuscaloosa. Many old friends of the Sabans will make the trip and squeezed into that game weekend will surely be a Saban-hosted celebration.

With a contract extension awarded this week, Nick Saban is set to coach the Crimson Tide through the 2029 season. That means the GOAT will be on the Bryant-Denny sideline when Ohio State comes to Tuscaloosa in 2028. Also in the 2028 season, the Crimson Tide will travel to Stillwater, OK, after having gone to Columbus to play Ohio State in ‘The Horseshoe’  the season before.

The high-profile games were scheduled to showcase Alabama football teams, rather than Nick Saban. But the away games somewhat resemble a long-running, college football farewell tour. Beginning with Darrell K. Royal Stadium in Austin this season, then going to Camp Randall to play Wisconsin in 2024, Doak-Campbell to play FSU in 2025, West Virginia in 2026, Ohio State in 2027, Oklahoma State in 2028, and Notre Dame in 2029 – excitement will be so high, no hype will be needed.

For those wondering, when the Alabama Crimson Tide runs on the Notre Dame field in 2029, Nick Saban will be just under three months shy of his 78th birthday. If any current college football coach can still kick ass at 80, it will be Nick Saban.

Purposely, money has been left for last in this post. The Saban story is about so much more than money. For the record, he is scheduled to be compensated $12.7M in the 2029 season.

There is plenty of time to talk later about new records Nick Saban will set should he coach into 2029 (and possibly beyond). They will be momentous and a continued payoff to the University of Alabama.