Paul Finebaum claims Texas wanted to pay Nick Saban $100 million

While the Nick Saban-to-Texas rumors never had any apparent solid backing, one new rumor alleges that the Longhorns weren't kidding around about making Saban their new head coach. According to ESPN commentator Paul Finebaum — via AL.com — in a new book about the SEC and college football, Texas was willing to pay over $100 million for Saban.

"Texas was dead serious about trying to money-whip Saban," Finebaum and Wojchiechowski write. "Depending on whom you talk to -- Bama big hitters or Texas big hitters -- the Longhorns were prepared to give Saban somewhere between a $12 and $15 million signing bonus and a salary package worth $100 million (plus performances)."

For reference, Saban's new deal at Alabama is already the biggest in college football by a wide margin, and at $6.9 million per over eight years, he is getting half of that reported Texas offer. The Longhorns ended up hiring Louisville coach Charlie Strong, who will make a total of $25 million over five seasons.

It's best to take this with a grain of salt. Because there doesn't appear to have been an official offer, $100 million for a football coach is insane money, and Finebaum's connections are more likely to be on the Alabama side than the Texas side. And if true, it could just be boosters who wanted to flaunt what their school has. But still, it would have been pretty crazy to see a amateur college football coach making more than most professional athletes.