Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban sounded like he doesn’t have much use for Group of 5 programs in a recent interview with ESPN.
Saban was asked by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach about his thoughts on College Football Playoff expansion.
The Bama head coach made it clear that he doesn’t think Group of 5 conference champions deserve an automatic bid. He also doesn’t think those programs are among the best in the nation.
“I don’t like the fact that the [Group of 5] conferences want their conference champions to be in the playoff,” said Saban. “I coached at Toledo and we were conference champions. We sure as hell didn’t have any business playing Florida. That’s not the best teams. If you are going to do it, get the best teams.”
For the most part, Saban is probably right. It’s rare that a Group of 5 program could compete with a powerhouse like Alabama, Clemson, or Oklahoma.
But what about the 2017 UCF team that went undefeated?
The Knights went 13-0 in 2017 while beating three ranked programs (including a top 10 Auburn team in the Peach Bowl). While Alabama likely would’ve destroyed UCF, didn’t we at least deserve to see how UCF would’ve matched up with the Crimson Tide?
Not in Saban’s eyes, apparently (at least not via an automatic bid).
That wasn’t the only remark that Saban made about Group of 5 programs, either.
Not only does Saban not want to see Group of 5 programs receive an automatic bid to an expanded playoff, but he also doesn’t necessarily even want to play Group of 5 programs anymore (or FCS programs).
“I’m not even opposed to giving them (group of 5 programs and FCS programs) money so they can have programs,” said Saban. “But nobody wants to come to watch some of these games, and the players are getting to the point where they don’t want to play in these games, just like players don’t want to play in bowl games.”
I don’t necessarily disagree with Saban on that point — those matchups are unwatchable most of the time (though certain matchups between Group of 5 programs and lower-tiered Power-5 programs are fine).
If we’re going to see expanded conference schedules in the near future, I’d rather see SEC programs playing ACC programs or Big 10 programs instead of games against Bowling Green or South Florida.
It’s probably worth listening to what Saban has to say because that’s likely the direction college football is heading in. Saban has a big influence on the NCAA decision-makers, so I’m sure they’re listening to his words (and suggestions) closely.
Featured image via Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News via Imagn Content Services/Mickey Welsh / Advertiser via Imagn Content Services
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