Former University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban has proposed a significant shift in college football scheduling, suggesting that teams should play all 12 of their regular-season games against Power 5 opponents.
Saban articulated this viewpoint during a discussion about the current challenges facing college football, including name, image, and likeness (NIL) rules, potential direct player compensation, College Football Playoff expansion, and conference realignments. He believes that the sport is at a critical juncture, and one negative consequence has been teams opting for easier schedules to improve their chances of making the playoff.
This approach, Saban argues, diminishes the quality of competition and the excitement for fans. He cited the recent cancellation of the USC-Notre Dame rivalry game as an example of how both teams can "accidentally" benefit by removing a difficult opponent, thereby increasing their perceived strength of schedule for playoff committees. This trend, he contends, incentivizes athletic directors and coaches to prioritize easier non-conference slates.
"I actually think we should play 12 games against the Power 5," Saban stated, as reported by On3's Brett McMurphy. "That's it. Because it's a business and people want to see those games." He views this as a business strategy that aligns with fan interest in seeing high-profile matchups between major conferences.
Saban suggested that this model would lead to more compelling games, such as contests between Big Ten and SEC teams, or ACC and Big Ten teams. While acknowledging that such a schedule could result in more losses for teams, he pointed out that with the College Football Playoff potentially expanding to 24 teams, the impact of a single loss might be less critical.
As an illustration of current non-conference scheduling trends, the article noted that several major teams have historically scheduled weaker opponents in their early-season games. Saban's proposal directly contrasts with this practice, advocating for a prioritization of exciting and meaningful contests to boost ratings and attendance.