A year after retirement Nick Saban is headed to the College Football Hall of Fame as part of a class of 22 to be enshrined at a ceremony in Las Vegas in December. A seven-time national title winner, Saban retired from Alabama last January and was eligible for immediate induction in the Hall of Fame because he meets the age requirement (over 70).

Former Virginia Tech star Michael Vick and broadcaster Michael Strahan are also among the class of 18 players and four coaches.

Legendary former coach Nick Saban was surprised with the news of his induction to the College Football Hall of Fame on Friday. The announcement came during Saban's appearance on the ESPN pregame show leading up to the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal between Texas and Ohio State.

One year to the day of retiring his post from Alabama football, coach Nick Saban was announced as the newest inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame. Saban was named as the first inductee of the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class during ESPN's "College GameDay" before the College Football Playoff semifinal between Ohio State and Texas.

The former Alabama coach and seven-time national champion learned he would enter the College Football Hall of Fame before Friday’s Cotton Bowl Classic kicked off. Saban received the news from the ESPN College GameDay crew, which was at AT&T Stadium for the College Football Playoff showdown between Texas and Ohio State.

Urban Meyer will join Nick Saban in the 2025 College Football Hall of Fame class, and Michael Vick and Michael Strahan are among the former players who will be inducted. The National Football Foundation announced Saban's selection last week and the rest of the 18-player,