Nick Saban is getting the ESPN documentary treatment, and football fans won’t have to wait much longer to see the story behind one of the most successful coaches in college football history.
ESPN and Words + Pictures announced that Saban, a six-part ESPN Original docuseries, will premiere Thursday, October 8. The first episode will air on ESPN at 6 p.m. ET, while all six episodes will be available to stream on the ESPN App at launch.
The series chronicles Saban’s career from his early coaching stops through his legendary run at Alabama, where he spent 17 seasons and won six national championships. It will also revisit his time at LSU, the Miami Dolphins and Michigan State while taking a closer look at the coaching philosophy known as “The Process.”
ESPN says the documentary features hundreds of hours of never-before-seen footage from locker rooms, practice fields and behind-the-scenes moments throughout Saban’s career.
The project also features interviews with more than 70 people connected to Saban, including Bill Belichick, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, Kirby Smart, Tim Tebow, Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. Saban and his wife, Miss Terry Saban, also participate in extensive new interviews.
Saban said the project gave him and Miss Terry a chance to reflect on his career from a broader perspective.
“There’s a lot to tell, and I’m excited to share it all,” Saban said.
ESPN Original Content executive Brian Lockhart said the documentary offers an unusual level of access to the Hall of Fame coach.
“What makes this series so special is the extraordinary access to Coach Saban, Miss Terry and the people who know him best, paired with rare footage that offers a new perspective on his remarkable journey.”
Words + Pictures CEO Connor Schell was even more direct about Saban’s place in the sport, calling him “a football genius, a singular leader, and a true icon.”
When to Watch Saban on ESPN
The six episodes will roll out on ESPN throughout October and early November:
- Episode 1, “The Process” — October 8 at 6 p.m. ET
- Episode 2, “Death Valley” — October 15 at 6 p.m. ET
- Episode 3, “Black Diamonds” — October 20 at 7 p.m. ET
- Episode 4, “Home” — October 27 at 7 p.m. ET
- Episode 5, “The Mountain” — October 29 at 6 p.m. ET
- Episode 6, “Pride” — November 5 at 6 p.m. ET
The big streaming advantage is that viewers won’t have to wait for each episode to air. All six episodes will be available on the ESPN App when the series premieres on October 8.
For cord cutters, ESPN offers its networks, live sports and original programming directly through the ESPN App. ESPN Unlimited currently starts at $31.99 per month, while the Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle is available for $35.99 per month.
