Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesIt's going to cost Alabama if it plans on replacing the retired Nick Saban with a high-profile coaching candidate.
ESPN's Chris Low reported Wednesday that the legendary coach is retiring from the sport after winning six national championships in 17 years with the Crimson Tide.
It didn't take long for potential replacements to emerge, as ESPN's Pete Thamel listed Oregon's Dan Lanning, Washington's Kalen DeBoer, Clemson's Dabo Swinney, Penn State's James Franklin, Florida State's Mike Norvell and Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman as a "target list" that will feature "complications and big buyouts, as it's difficult to move entrenched coaches."
Here is a look at some of those buyout figures:
Pete Thamel @PeteThamelBuyouts for potential Alabama head coach candidates <br>Dan Lanning -- $20 million <br>Kalen DeBoer -- $12 million <br>Dabo Swinney -- $7.5 million <br>James Franklin -- $6 million <br>Mike Norvell -- $4 million
Pete Thamel @PeteThamelOne more addition. Marcus Freeman's buyout is believed to be under $4 million. <a href="https://t.co/MudMoS8y9v">https://t.co/MudMoS8y9v</a>
Whoever comes to the Crimson Tide will be asked to fill massive shoes.
Saban went 206-29 with three BCS national championships and three College Football Playoff national titles during his tenure with Alabama. He also won a national championship when he was at LSU and had stops as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Toledo and Michigan State.
Every season is championship-or-bust in Alabama, and that won't change even when Saban is no longer on the sidelines.
Hiring the right coach will surely be worth the money for the SEC powerhouse, even if it comes with a pricey buyout.
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