Before Deion Sanders and Nick Saban found a common ground in their stance against NIL, the two were embroiled in a bitter public feud over the same. Saban, who set a coaching standard in college football, had accused Coach Prime of using NIL deals to buy his players.

“We have a rule right now that said you cannot use name, image and likeness to entice a player to come to your school. H***, read about it in the paper,” Saban said in 2022. “Jackson State paid a guy a million dollars last year that was a really good Division I player to come to school. It was in the paper and they bragged about it. Nobody did anything about it.” 

AL.com reported that Saban was speaking at an event in Birmingham, Alabama, to promote the upcoming World Games in July. The coach-turned-commentator had called out the Texas A&M Aggies for “buying” players in its highly-ranked recruiting class.

Saban stated that Alabama maintained its integrity, but is unsure for how long in a rapidly changing system.

“A&M bought every player on their team,” the seven-time national title coach said. “We didn’t buy one player. But I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sustain that in the future, because more and more people are doing it. It’s tough.” 

Saban spent seven minutes vehemently attacking NIL, holding firm against the recruiting arms race. The 74-year-old had previously spoken about the same in an interview with the Associated Press in March that year. 

While discussing NIL at the promotional event, he also commented on NIL’s after-effects.

“I know the consequence is going to be difficult for the people who are spending tons of money to get players,” Saban said of Sanders and the Aggies. 

His comments were bound for a reply from the ever-feisty Sanders. 

Deion Sanders speaks up on Nick Saban’s NIL comments on him

Nick Saban made these strong comments after Sanders had landed Travis Hunter, one of the most sought-after recruits. He had flipped his commitment from Florida State to Jackson State in December. 

According to a report by The Guardian, Sanders denied that he made any lucrative offers to rope in Hunter to an HBCU in tier two of Division I football. In response to these claims, Sanders shared a post on X.

“You best believe I will address that LIE Coach SABAN told tomorrow,” Sanders tweeted on May 19. “...We as a PEOPLE don’t have to pay our PEOPLE to play with our PEOPLE.”

Sanders was the only person who reacted to Saban’s comments. Hunter also commented of the situation, poking fun at Saban’s statement.

“I got A mil? (laughing emoji) But my mom still stay in a 3 bed room house with five kids (laughing emoji),” he posted on the same day as Sanders.

 Saban and Sanders appear to have made up since then, and Hunter was picked second overall in 2025. The conversation about NIL has grown stronger. What are your thoughts? 

Read more at the Michigan Football Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar