Ohio State Buckeyes sophomore safety Caleb Downs was among the athletes who entered the transfer portal in January 2024 after legendary Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement. Ahead of Ohio State’s National Championship Game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Downs recalled the moments during Saban’s retirement and how he felt upon hearing the news.
Former Alabama Safety Caleb Downs on Nick Saban’s Retirement
In a locker-room interview on Jan. 18, Downs was asked how surprised he was by Saban’s retirement announcement, to which the Georgia native replied:
“That came as a huge shock to me. I didn’t see it coming at all, and even when he said that, I was still like, ‘Did this really just happen?’ … That was probably one of the most difficult pieces in my life, just try[ing] to make that decision and knowing that the high school decision I made, I wasn’t going to be able to stick to.”
Talking about his decision to transfer, Downs said:
“I didn’t know right away that I was going to hit the portal. I tried to give every opportunity to stay. … At that time, I didn’t want to leave, and I wanted to stick to my choice that I made in high school to stay there.”
Caleb Downs, the SEC Freshman of the Year at Alabama in 2023, explains the shock he had when Nick Saban retired & how he hung around Tuscaloosa a few days before transferring to Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/YgWRzv6Etx
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) January 18, 2025
During the 2024 campaign with Ohio State, Downs recorded 77 total tackles, 44 of which were solo, along with six pass defenses and two interceptions. He also played some special teams as a punt returner, totaling 98 return yards, including a 79-yard touchdown against Indiana.
After Saban’s retirement last year on Jan. 10, Downs entered the transfer portal after taking about five or six days to assess his options.
As a true freshman at Alabama, he was considered one of the best defensive backs in the country and earned the SEC Freshman of the Year honors with 107 tackles. Now with Ohio State, Downs has a chance to hoist the National Championship Trophy if he wins the finale at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
MORE: Ohio State vs. Notre Dame Prediction
ESPN gives the Buckeyes a 55.3% chance of winning by a margin of 1.9 points. The Fighting Irish haven’t beaten Ohio State since 1936 but will have an opportunity to change that in their ninth meeting.
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