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Almost everyone acknowledges that college football is astatine a turning point. Whether it beryllium name, image and likeness, issues pinch paying players directly, description of nan College Football Playoff, conferences breaking disconnected from nan NCAA, aliases debates complete spot of schedule.
All these issues person had a important effect connected wherever nan athletics presently is and wherever it's going. Some successful bully ways, immoderate successful bad.
One of nan astir unequivocally bad outcomes? Teams decreasing nan value of their schedules because it's easier to triumph much games and make nan College Football Playoff. Look nary further than the illness of nan USC-Notre Dame rivalry crippled for nan foreseeable future.
FLORIDA STATE-GEORGIA SERIES CANCELLATION IS OMINOUS SIGN FOR FUTURE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Lincoln Riley of nan USC Trojans looks connected during nan first 4th of nan crippled against nan TCU Horned Frogs astatine Alamodome connected December 30, 2025 successful San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images). Head coach Marcus Freeman during a Notre Dame shot believe astatine Irish Athletic Center connected Saturday, April 18, 2026, successful South Bend. (MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images, MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK)
Both sides "accidentally" use from nan game's cancellation. One little top-15 opponent, 1 much apt triumph to waste to nan College Football Playoff action committee. And therein lies nan problem; because making nan playoff is viewed arsenic nan astir important extremity by coaches, fans, and diversion directors, nan incentives are tilted successful that direction. Which is really we've gotten wherever we are: galore Power 4 teams mounting up easy non-conference schedules.
Well, nan champion caput coach successful nan sport's history, Nick Saban, has a solution. Just man up and play large opponents each season.
"I really deliberation we should play 12 games against nan Power 5," Saban said connected Wednesday, per On3's Brett McMurphy. "That's it. Because it's a business and group want to spot those games."
NICK SABAN URGES SENATE TO PASS LEGISLATION TO FIX COLLEGE SPORTS, BUT COACHING CONTRACTS GLOSSED OVER
Nick Saban, erstwhile caput shot coach astatine nan University of Alabama, testifies earlier nan Senate Committee connected Commerce, Science, and Transportation successful Washington, D.C., connected June 3, 2026. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
How refreshing is that? Yes. College shot is simply a business. People want to spot their favourite teams play different large teams, because nan games are much exciting, interesting, and meaningful. Who would reason pinch seeing much games betwixt nan Big Ten and nan SEC? Well, SEC coaches who bask complaining astir non-conference schedules and guarantee their teams ne'er time off nan cardinal clip zone, cough Missouri.
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Or nan ACC and Big Ten? Or Big 12 and SEC? Obviously that would mean much losses, but if nan playoff is headed for 24 teams anyway, truthful what?
As an example, here's nan week 1 schedule for immoderate large sanction teams:
- Ohio State-Ball State
- Missouri-Arkansas Pine-Bluff
- Illinois-UAB
- Utah-Idaho
- Oklahoma-UTEP
- Texas-Texas State
- Texas A&M-Missouri State
- Michigan-Western Michigan
- Florida-Florida Atlantic
- USC-Fresno State
Nick Saban, erstwhile caput shot coach astatine nan University of Alabama, testifies earlier nan Senate Committee connected Commerce, Science, and Transportation successful Washington, D.C., connected June 3, 2026. The committee heard grounds connected protecting assemblage sports, supporting student athletes, restoring adjacent compensation, and redeeming nan games fans love. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Then there's Ole Miss-Louisville, Florida State-SMU, Cal-UCLA, Washington-Washington State, and Wisconsin-Notre Dame. Games of nan year? No. But much breathtaking and absorbing than a parade of G5 teams? Absolutely. You want ratings, and attendance? Prioritize amended games.
And therein lies nan brilliance of Saban's solution. Just play amended games, spot your team, and fto nan chips autumn wherever they may. It'll ne'er happen, but it should.
Ian Miller is simply a writer astatine OutKick.
