Skip to main content
Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

This story is free to read.

Nick Saban finalist for AP college football coach of the year

Alabama football coach Nick Saban is preparing the Crimson Tide for its fifth straight appearance in the College Football Playoff, which has never been played without Saban or the Tide being part of it.
Alabama football coach Nick Saban is preparing the Crimson Tide for its fifth straight appearance in the College Football Playoff, which has never been played without Saban or the Tide being part of it. Alabama football coach Nick Saban is preparing the Crimson Tide for its fifth straight appearance in the College Football Playoff, which has never been played without Saban or the Tide being part of it.

By The Associated Press 2 min read

Central Florida’s Josh Heupel, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly and Alabama’s Nick Saban are the finalists for The Associated Press national college football coach of the year after leading their teams to unbeaten regular seasons.

The winner will be announced today at noon.

Heupel guided No. 7 Central Florida (12-0) to a second consecutive unbeaten season in his first year leading the team. The American Athletic Conference champions will play No. 11 LSU (9-3) in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Day in Glendale, Arizona.

Kelly, Notre Dame’s coach since 2010, has led the third-ranked Fighting Irish (12-0) to their first College Football Playoff appearance in the four-team event’s fifth edition. They will play No. 2 Clemson (13-0) in the Cotton Bowl national semifinal on Dec. 29 in Arlington, Texas.

Saban, in his 12th season at Alabama, has the No. 1 Crimson Tide (13-0) in the playoff for the fifth consecutive season. They won the Southeastern Conference and face No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) in the Orange Bowl national semifinal on Dec. 29 in Miami Gardens, Florida.