When it comes to college football issues, Alabama’s Nick Saban is what’s best for the game, not the Crimson Tide, he contends.

In an interview with Fox Sports, Joel Klatt asked the Alabama coach if his opinions and stances are ever swayed by his allegiance to the Crimson Tide.

“If you would ask anyone else in our profession, they would answer that yes,” Saban said. “Because they think everything I say about the game globally is to benefit Alabama, which is not really true.

“I think we have a great sport, and I think it’s been great for a lot of people for a lot of years, including myself.”

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Saban pointed out his journey in college football, starting with the opportunity to play for Don James, and how he has benefitted.

“So, I do look at the sport and the big picture of the sport and what’s best for the sport – and not just for football. But what are the consequences of some of the things that we are doing now if we continue down this road and how it impacts other sports? And how it impacts opportunities for other people to play other sports that may not be revenue producing sports but yet for many, many years have created opportunities for people to get an education to better their quality of life down the road and have a chance to compete as college student-athletes. …

“We have to deal with name, image and likeness now, but when we started this a few years ago and I said, ‘Is this what we want college football to become?’ I got criticized for saying that. Now, people are saying, ‘Whoa, maybe we should be looking at this closer.’”

Check out the full interview above.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.