When everybody can pay the players, winning becomes more difficult.
Yep. Saban's success has been entirely based on the accumulation of more talent than anyone else. He really isn't the worlds greatest gameday coach. He won games because his offensive line could run over your defensive line. His defensive line could run over your offensive line. He won because he perpetually had the top QB prospect in the country many of which were drafted very highly in the NFL. He had Heisman caliber running backs and he has had about 8 or 9 WR that went on to be absolute stars in the NFL. Now with the NIL and the portal in effect Saban has seen the handwriting on the wall. No more being 3 deep at every position with players on the bench better than most teams 1st string. Now many of those guys will hit the portal rather than ride the bench. And the NIL? Well let me use a bootlegging analogy below to explain it in relation to Saban and Alabama.
If you are the biggest bootlegger in the land. (Think Al Capone). And you have set up a well oiled system to produce and distribute huge quantities of alcohol. And you fear no penalty because you've got the local law bought off. You got the local press bought off. You even got the state politicians covering your ass. All adding up to you being able sell illegal booze on a level your would be competitors can only dream of. Then the last thing on earth you want is for booze to be legalized so that every Tom, Dick and Harry can easily and fearlessly sell all they want as well.
Alabama will still be a good team. They will still get their share of top recruits. But Saban knew he no longer had the market cornered. No more guaranteed lock for a top 1 or 2 recruiting class anymore.
