Nick Saban, former head football coach at the University of Alabama, arrives for testimony before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in the Hart Senate Office Building on June 3, 2026, in Washington, D.C..

ORLANDO, Fla. — Nick Saban found himself in a remarkable position this week. There he was on Capitol Hill, testifying before Congress in support of the Protect College Sports Act, arguing that college athletics desperately needs structure, leadership and federal intervention before it spirals completely out of control. At virtually the same moment, the Southeastern Conference — the very empire ...