When Nick Saban was 39 years old, he got his first head-coaching job and immediately showed his chops. The Toledo Rockets went 9–2 in 1990, and they were remarkably close to being 11–0.
Their two losses were by a total of five points, both accompanied by offensive struggles and late-game heartbreak. There was a missed 51-yard field goal into a strong wind on the final play in a 13–12 loss to Central Michigan. Then a few weeks later, a Navy go-ahead touchdown with 30 seconds left in a 14–10 defeat. Those Rockets averaged 25.8 points per game; if it had been 26.