Nick Saban trails only Nebraska's Tom Osborne for wins in first 20 years as head coach

Alabama coach Nick Saban won his 191st game Monday as a college head coach, but that mark falls short of a record Tom Osborne still holds.

Saban just finished his 20th season as head coach of a college football team. Through that same span, Osborne had won 195 games, four more than Saban and still the nation's record.

ESPN posted an in-depth statistical breakdown to measure where Saban ranks among history's best coaches.

The piece doesn't make any mention of Osborne, but the Huskers legend has Saban beat on at least one statistical measuring stick — wins.

Through 20 seasons as a head coach, ESPN found that "Saban has averaged 9.55 wins per season. He has dipped below nine wins only seven times and has won at least 10 games in eight straight seasons, including going 14-0 in 2009. In 14 seasons as an SEC coach, Saban has won at least 10 games 10 times."

To compare with Osborne through his first 20 years: NU's legendary coach averaged 9.75 wins per season, he never dipped below nine wins and won at least 10 games 10 times.

Saban still has the leg up in national championships, winning five in his first 20 years. Osborne's first title didn't come until his 22nd year as a collegiate head coach.

But Osborne still set a winning pace that Saban, nor any head coach since, has matched.

via ESPN

Tag: Huskers