Nick Saban shares thoughts on CFP reveal: 'My question about all the strength of schedule'
Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban shared passionate thoughts Sunday on the College Football Playoff's selection process, including how strength of schedule is valued.
Saban, of course, was likely upset with Alabama being the first team left out of the 12-team bracket, as SMU earned the final at-large spot despite losing in the ACC championship game.
"My point earlier was that if SMU was (ranked) 8, and they played in the conference championship game and they lost by three points, they shouldn't be penalized for that, necessarily," Saban said on ESPN's CFP selection show. "But my question about all the strength of schedule, 15th strength of schedule versus 60th strength of schedule, that should've been taken into consideration before they ever played in the championship game. Maybe (SMU's) ranked 12th and if they win the game they get in and if they lose the game Clemson gets in.
"But it wasn't that way, so it looks like they have to get penalized. But if it was done based on strength of schedule to start with, that wouldn't have been the case. I really think, playing in the (SEC) for over 20 years, when you have to go play Tennessee, then you gotta go play LSU, then that team that you play next, you may be more vulnerable to. And you must have a very mature, competitive team that has a lot of depth to be able to play through all these circumstances, and it's very, very difficult.
"And to not take into consideration when you don't beat one top 25 team. Not one top 25 team. And you went through your whole season, Indiana didn't do that, SMU really didn't do that. It makes a huge difference. I mean, the Pittsburgh Steelers got beat by the Cleveland Browns. We don't sit around and say that should know (the Steelers) out of the playoffs. They still can play their way into the playoffs by beating other good teams."
While Saban never technically named Alabama in his rant, he did seem pretty clear to think SEC teams should have an advantage based on strength of schedule. Ole Miss and South Carolina were the other three-loss SEC teams on the outside looking in.
The Crimson Tide didn't do themselves any favors this season, however, with losses to a pair of 6-6 teams in Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, with the Sooners dominating Alabama 24-3 at home.
Saban later raised the question of the importance of scheduling good teams during your season, as he mentioned Alabama having non-conference games with Notre Dame, Ohio State and Wisconsin in upcoming seasons, on top of an already difficult conference schedule.
"Those are great games for fans to see," Saban said, "and what I think we should be doing in college football is creating more good inventory for more great games that people are interested in, but do you enhance people wanting to do that, where what's an athletic director gonna do, he may go cancel all those games now knowing that the SEC is tough enough."
Saban holds a 292-71-1 all-time record as a head coach, winning seven national championships, six of which with Alabama. The five-time SEC Coach of the Year retired following the end of the 2023 season after the Crimson Tide fell to Michigan in overtime of the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Saban is now a full-time member of ESPN's "College GameDay," the pregame show that travels to the site of their game of the week each Saturday.