Nick Saban, Jim Harbaugh comparison shows performance vs expectation

Nick Saban is one of only four active coaches to have won a college football national championship. Why do so many believe Harbaugh will be next?

Last week, Tom Fornelli listed his picks for the five coaches not named Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Jimbo Fisher and Dabo Swinney who will win a college football national championship. The full story is worth a read Coaches most likely to win a first national championship.

Fornelli chose the five most likely (from No. 5 to No. 1) as Jim McElwain; Tom Herman; Clay Helton; Chris Petersen and Jim Harbaugh. His honorable mentions were James Franklin; Ed Orgeron; Mark Richt; David Shaw and Kirby Smart.

It is a good list in most ways, driven as much by the…