Oops, the feeling after losing to Michigan was "oh well, no big deal, Bama will win one next year or two". Now it is, " should have won that one because it may be the last chance for a while".
The ground was getting shaky with NIL and transfer portal but Saban, along with some of the other big programs, seemed to be managing it pretty well and we were still expecting Bama would continue with a high level of talent on the team. Now, who knows? Long time Bama fans and alumni remember how many down-years there were after Coach Bryant and after Coach Stallings. Coach Bryant was drifting off during his last year and Stallings was not recruiting top level talent during his last years, so the program was not in as good as shape as it is currently for passing on to a new coach. The transfer portal can put a quick damper on it though.
I'm wondering how well prepared the administration is for this. I'm assuming there has been preparation and there are plans in place including input from Coach Saban. There has likely been discussions with potential coaches already but it is very difficult to keep that type of stuff quiet and some information and rumors usually leak fairly quickly so maybe not.