Dick Vitale thinks Alabama football coach Nick Saban would be 'a steal' at $500 million

ESPN basketball announcer Dick Vitale believes that Nick Saban would be "a steal" even if Alabama football paid him $500 million.

Saban has seven national championship wins and has taken Alabama to six of the seven playoffs before this season. Saturday's SEC championship win gave him his 10th SEC title and eighth at Alabama.

This season has seen coaches who lacked Saban's accomplishments get close to his current annual compensation of $9.7 million.

Lincoln Riley reported deal at USC is north of $100 million. Riley took the USC job, leaving Oklahoma after spending the last five seasons there and leading the Sooners to three playoff appearances. He went 55-10 at Oklahoma.

Brian Kelly moved to LSU from Notre Dame and will be paid $100 million over 10 years. At Notre Dame, Kelly made the 2012 national championship game, losing 42-14 to Alabama. Notre Dame made two playoff appearances under Kelly.

Mel Tucker of Michigan State signed a 95 million deal for 10 years. Tucker is the midst of his first winning season.

Read more SEC Championship news

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• Grades: Alabama football report card vs. Georgia: Did Nick Saban bring a cheat sheet to this test?

• Toppmeyer: Is this the best you've got, Georgia? Alabama makes Bulldogs look like a fraud | Toppmeyer

• Observations: The empire strikes back: Alabama football bullies Georgia to win SEC Championship Game

• Offensive Line: Offensive line's turnaround paves way for Alabama football's SEC championship win

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How much does Dick Vitale think Nick Saban should make?