Deion Sanders: 'I Hate' That We Lost Nick Saban to Retirement; Best CFB Coach 'Ever'

The 2024 college football season will be the first without legendary coach Nick Saban in nearly two decades, and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders recently paid him respect.

While speaking on The Joel Klatt Show, Sanders declared that Saban, who retired in January after spending the last 17 seasons as head coach of Alabama, is the pinnacle of what college coaches aspire to become.

"First of all, let's just get this straight, he's the magna cum laude, he is it. He is what we attain to just get next to, we'll never eclipse it whatsoever," Sanders said around the 16:35 mark. "[He's the best] ever. Ever, let's get that straight."

Sanders went on to suggest that part of the reason that Saban decided to step down was due to college football's ever-changing landscape. The implementation of NIL and new transfer rules along with conference realignment have brought new obstacles for coaches to navigate through, and Sanders believes these changes drove the 72-year-old away from the game.

"I just hate it for him, because I felt as though he had so much more left, but I understand when it's not in you to do it that way, and you want to do it this way," Sanders said. "Shoot, it was like, 'Man, we lost the OG. We lost the OG.' He means so much to me personally... I hate that we lost him for college football's sake, and why. It shouldn't be that way."

Saban led Alabama to six national titles and a 206-29 record over his 17-year tenure, so he has earned the right to kick his feet up and enjoy retirement.

It will be a tough act to follow, but Kalen DeBoer was hired as Saban's replacement and will look to lead Alabama back to national championship contention in 2024.