Alabama football is reportedly working fast to secure Nick Saban’s successor after his bombshell retirement.

Crimson Tide players were told that UA “hoped to have its next head coach in place in the next 72 hours,” per an article from 247Sports. The news came at a 4 p.m. team meeting where many players were surprised Saban was calling it a career at 17 years at Alabama.

The immediate names to arise among pundits included Oregon’s Dan Lanning and Washington’s Kalen DeBoer. UA athletic director Greg Bryne took to social media to state the next time the public heard from him, it would be with news of a new hire.

“As with any coaching search, our goal is to be thorough but expedient. Our ideal candidate will be strong in recruiting and relationship building, player development, excel in Xs and Os and have the overall ability to lead this historic program,” Byrne wrote in a post two hours after ESPN first reported Saban’s retirement.

The 72-year-old head coach deflected a question about his future asked last week on The Pat McAfee Show. The 247Sports report, written by Mike Rodak, John Talty and Matt Zenitz, said Saban cited “his age and health concerns to players” in a “short and direct” meeting when explaining his retirement.

Multiple outlets have reported Saban operated as usual on Wednesday. He interviewed coaches for UA’s wide reciever opening and made an appearance on the SEC weekly coaches call, according to Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz and conference commissioner Greg Sankey.

Alabama has now entered the head coaching carousel for the first time since 2007 when Saban had his noteworthy courtship by then-athletic director Mal M. Moore. The sport has changed in the ensuing 17 years from the transfer portal to name, image and likeness. Alabama’s next hire will need to navigate players being able to access the transfer portal for 30 days and a recruiting class that just lost five-star Ryan Williams.

Per Bookies.com, Lanning is the odds-on favorite to replace Saban at +300. Other options include Clemson’s Dabo Swinney (+350) and Florida State’s Mike Norvell (+450).

Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].