Official announcement from the SEC or Alabama Athletics Department

Alabama's Saban and Byrne Question CFP Selection Criteria, Propose SEC Scheduling Changes

Dec 8, 2024, 07:45 PM

Nick Saban, the former head coach of Alabama, has expressed concerns over the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection criteria, particularly the lack of consideration for strength of schedule. Following Alabama's exclusion from the CFP, Saban questioned the benefits of scheduling tough non-conference opponents, suggesting that if strength of schedule isn't a significant factor, teams might opt for easier matchups. Alabama Athletic Director Greg Byrne echoed these sentiments, indicating that the university would need to reassess its non-conference scheduling strategy to better position the team for future CFP participation. Saban also proposed that the SEC should consider increasing its conference games from eight to ten to ensure more competitive play. This discussion comes in the wake of Alabama's 4-0 non-conference record, but losses to mid-tier SEC teams, which ultimately led to their playoff omission.