Nick Saban’s retirement presents a potential home run opportunity for Ohio State football’s future rosters

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Nick Saban spent 17 years turning Alabama into college football’s ultimate juggernaut, whether that be on the field or on the recruiting trail.

Ohio State has felt the impact of both of those things since Ryan Day took over the program in 2019 and, now as Saban walks away from the sport to retire, the Buckeyes have a chance to recoup from the losses that came as a result.

On the field, that came in the form of a lopsided 54-24 thrashing in a national championship game to conclude a 2020 season marred by a global pandemic. That’s been the only time Day got a chance to face Saban and the second time OSU’s done so since Saban got to Alabama. The other was a 42-35 Sugar Bowl win in 2014 under Urban Meyer on the way to winning a national title.

The more common matchups have come on the recruiting trail where the Buckeyes have often fallen victim to the Crimson Tide. That started with Jordan Battle in 2019, when he flipped following Meyer’s retirement. Those moments continued in 2021 when Alabama killed off OSU’s momentum for J.C. Latham and landed the five-star while also flipping Ohio cornerback Devonta Smith. Alabama left Ohio State alone for the most part in 2022 but picked right back up in 2023 with Caleb Downs, Justice Haynes, Keon Keeley and Kadyn Proctor.

So far, the loss of Downs is probably the most significant given that he quickly became one of Alabama’s more productive players as a true freshman this past season, but Latham has also been a starter the last two years.

It was realistic to think most of those players would end up Buckeyes during their recruitments, but each instead chose to go play for arguably the greatest head coach in the history of college football. But now that he’s gone, maybe there’s a chance to revisit some of those losses and just turn them into delayed wins.

The same can even be said of 2024 defensive backs Zabien Brown and Peyton Woodyard. It maybe even would’ve had a more realistic shot of getting five-star quarterback Julian Sayin if he was committed to anyone other than Saban. Though the Buckeyes are clearly excited about what they ended up with in five-star Air Noland.

The transfer portal has become a prominent part of modern college football and teams can use it for numerous reasons. Ohio State has often used it to fill a hole with a one-year plug that doesn’t interrupt its future recruiting plans. But the departure of a head coach leading a program that’s home to a roster constantly among the nation’s most talented could change that equation.

Saban’s retirement could open a window for the Buckeyes to use the portal for not just quick fixes to its recruiting miss, but a way to potentially correct those misses with the very players you planned to have fill those holes in the first place.

Plenty of teams will be looking to raid Alabama’s roster. Don’t be surprised if Ohio State finds itself being among them, looking to make up for a few losses at the hands of a legend now that Saban is gone.

The Buckeyes have already taken one player from the Crimson Tide’s roster this offseason in center Seth McLaughlin. Maybe he won’t be the last.