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Almost everyone acknowledges that college football is at a turning point. Whether it be name, image and likeness, issues with paying players directly, expansion of the College Football Playoff, conferences breaking off from the NCAA, or debates over strength of schedule.
All these issues have had a significant impact on where the sport currently is and where it’s going. Some in good ways, some in bad.
One of the most unequivocally bad outcomes? Teams decreasing the quality of their schedules because it’s easier to win more games and make the College Football Playoff. Look no further than the collapse of the USC-Notre Dame rivalry game for the foreseeable future.
FLORIDA STATE-GEORGIA SERIES CANCELLATION IS OMINOUS SIGN FOR FUTURE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Both sides “accidentally” benefit from the game’s cancellation. One less top-15 opponent, one more likely win to sell to the College Football Playoff selection committee. And therein lies the problem; because making the playoff is viewed as the most important goal by coaches, fans, and athletic directors, the incentives are tilted in that direction. Which is how we’ve gotten where we are: many Power 4 teams setting up easy non-conference schedules.
Well, the best head coach in the sport’s history, Nick Saban, has a solution. Just man up and play big opponents all season.
“I actually think we should play 12 games against the Power 5,” Saban said on Wednesday, per On3’s Brett McMurphy. “That’s it. Because it’s a business and people want to see those games.”
How refreshing is that? Yes. College football is a business. People want to see their favorite teams play other big teams, because the games are more exciting, interesting, and meaningful. Who would argue with seeing more games between the Big Ten and the SEC? Well, SEC coaches who enjoy complaining about non-conference schedules and ensure their teams never leave the central time zone, cough Missouri.
Or the ACC and Big Ten? Or Big 12 and SEC? Obviously that would mean more losses, but if the playoff is headed for 24 teams anyway, so what?
As an example, here’s the week one schedule for some big name teams:
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Then there’s Ole Miss-Louisville, Florida State-SMU, Cal-UCLA, Washington-Washington State, and Wisconsin-Notre Dame. Games of the year? No. But more exciting and interesting than a parade of G5 teams? Absolutely. You want ratings, and attendance? Prioritize better games.
And therein lies the brilliance of Saban’s solution. Just play better games, trust your team, and let the chips fall where they may. It’ll never happen, but it should.
