Nick Saban’s retirement had a clear impact on Alabama. The Crimson Tide no longer holds the “Bama Standard” on the field, falling to 6-2 and in danger of missing out on the College Football Playoff with another loss.
But as Jon Willner of the Seattle Times points out, Saban’s retirement also affected teams in the Big Ten and Big 12.
Specifically, Washington and Arizona.
“The two losses happened eight hours and 1,700 miles apart. Both had different fuel sources and plot twists,” Willner prefaced, “but deep in the background, Washington’s last four games… There was an interesting parallel between that third loss and Arizona’s fourth straight loss.
“The chain reaction caused by Nick Saban’s retirement has not resulted in equal treatment for schools caught in the aftermath.”
How did Nick Saban’s retirement from Alabama affect Washington State, Arizona State, and San Jose State?
For those who haven’t been following, Saban’s retirement led to the Crimson Tide hiring Karen DeBoer out of college. Jed Fisch was plucked from Arizona by the Huskies. The Wildcats acquired Brent Brennan from San Jose State in exchange.
So if you follow the coaching replacement rabbit hole all the way down, Saban’s retirement will take you all the way to the Mountain West. But its effects are felt in Tuscaloosa as well as in several other places.
