Former University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban went viral Saturday with his take on Ohio State's stacked roster.

Speaking on ESPN's College Gameday about the Buckeyes using name, image and likeness money to load up for the 2024 season, Saban said: "You guys keep talking about a $20 million roster, if you don't pay the right guys, you'll be s--t out of luck."

Saban was referencing a comment recently made by OSU athletic director Ross Bjork, who told ESPN's Jake Trotter the school was able to assemble arguably the most talented team in college football in 2024 thanks to a $20 million NIL budget.

Despite going 11-1 during the 2023 regular season, Ohio State missed the final four-team College Football Playoff, marking the second time in three seasons that the Buckeyes were left out.

OSU also lost to rival Michigan for a third straight year, putting immense pressure on Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day to get the program back on track.

The NIL money undoubtedly aided Day in assembling a who's who of college football superstars for this season, as he landed quarterback Will Howard from Kansas State, running back Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss and safety Caleb Downs from Alabama in the transfer portal.

He was also able to convince wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and pass-rusher JT Tuimoloau to return to school despite the notion that they could have been high picks in the 2024 NFL draft.

Ohio State seemingly always has a spectacular team on paper, but it is still on Day and the players to deliver.

Of course, with the CFP getting expanded to 12 teams this season, the Buckeyes will have far more margin for error during the regular season than they did in past years.

Top 25 voters clearly have a great deal of belief in the idea that Ohio State paid the right players given that the Buckeyes are ranked as the No. 2 team in the nation behind only a No. 1 Georgia team that won the national title in 2021 and 2022, and went 13-1 last season.

Still, Ohio State will have to make believers out of some skeptics after how the past several seasons have played out, as the program has not won a national championship since 2014.

The road to the CFP begins Saturday when Ohio State hosts MAC opponent Akron at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.