Former University of Alabama head coach Nick Saban took aim at strength of schedule as a real factor when it comes to rankings and seeding for the College Football Playoff on Sunday.
Saban saw his old team removed from the 12-team bracket, while SMU was able to slot in despite losing to Clemson in the ACC Championship. The University of Alabama was seeded 11th in the penultimate rankings, but was unable to advance to the final spot.
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Former Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban watches the Alabama vs. Texas A&M Aggies basketball game at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa on February 17, 2024. (Gary Cosby Jr. – USA Today Sports)
Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne said late Saturday that the Crimson Tide was third in opponent win percentage and had three wins against teams in the CFP poll before the slots were announced. pointed out. He wrote to X that “strength of schedule is important.”
But Saban suggested on ESPN that if strength of schedule really mattered, Alabama might have been rated higher.
“One of the things I've been talking about throughout this football season is, if you don't factor in the strength of schedule, is there any benefit to scheduling really good teams going forward? I think so,” Saban said. “For example, here at Alabama, we have players who are going to play outside the (SEC) in the future at Notre Dame, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Florida State.
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Nick Saban and his family celebrate the renaming of Nick Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 7, 2024 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Gary Cosby Jr. – USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“Well, these games are great games for fans to watch – and I think that's what we need to do in college football, is increase the inventory of great games that people are interested in – But do you step up people who want to do that? Athletic directors might just cancel all those games now that they know the SEC is tough enough.”
But Saban said he believes the best 12 teams in college football will be represented in this bracket.
“But I also think the best teams are making the playoffs, and I think that's the most important thing,” Saban said. “And no coach should complain about the relative nature of their situation, whether they're in the playoffs or out of the playoffs. They're all in control of their own destiny, and they're all Because they had chances. They had some flaws and bad losses that affected their situation.”
Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Karen DeBoer during warmups before the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. (Will McClelland-USA Today Sports)
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“So this could be a learning experience for every team and every individual on that team.”
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