5 perennial losers Nick Saban could turn into champions

3. Illinois

This one speaks to my heart just a bit.

Though you could also argue that programs like Rutgers (who took part in the original college football game when they played the early version of Princeton in 1869) could be deserving to be on our list here—Illinois boasts one of the top cases for being considered worthy of a Saban-rebuild.

It also may provide the most reward legacy-wise for Saban, as one of the tougher rebuilds on the list.

The Fighting Illini have been insanely underwhelming at times throughout their history, and incredible throughout others. In the early days of college football, the Illini launched the game into stardom with talents like The Galloping Ghost, Red Grange, football’s first superstar. They claim five national titles and 15 Big Ten championships since the program started in 1890.

Though they made big waves when they brought in Lovie Smith to head up their rebuild, which has seen mixed success resulting in a strange combination of big recruiting lands, misses and a surprise bowl appearance this past season, the Illini couldn’t (and wouldn’t) pass up the opportunity.

The Illini history could be brought back to real-life in the modern-day as one of the greats joins their program and delivering the big recruits from nearby Chicago and St. Louis, while adding a bit of SEC flare to the game.

If Saban wanted to go out with a challenge, he could take on the top programs of the Big Ten in Ohio State and Wisconsin from the jump and look to cement his legacy.