Nick Saban has the best solution for fixing the problems with college football scheduling

College football faces a significant challenge as playoff expansion changes the way teams manage their schedules. With the goal of making the playoffs becoming the primary focus for coaches and athletic directors, teams often favor easier non-conference matchups to boost their chances of success. This trend has led to the unfortunate cancellation of storied rivalries, such as the game between USC and Notre Dame, as schools prioritize winning over competitive matchups.

Nick Saban suggests a clear solution to this issue. The legendary former coach advocates for a mandate requiring teams to play 12 games exclusively against Power 5 opponents. Saban points out that the sport is a business and fans want to see high-stakes games between major programs. He believes that by removing the incentive to stack schedules with easier wins, the sport would return to the competitive quality that audiences expect.

While the current landscape of college football includes issues like player compensation and conference realignments, the decline in strength of schedule remains a major concern for the sport's long-term health. Saban argues that if the playoff format is set to expand to 24 teams, the fear of losing games against top-tier opponents should diminish. By playing tough games all season long, teams would provide better entertainment value and ensure that playoff spots are earned through genuine performance against the best competition.

Implementing such a mandate would shift the focus back to the games that matter most. While it is unlikely that all conferences will adopt this approach immediately, Saban's proposal highlights a path forward that values the history and excitement of college football. Fans, coaches, and administrators now have to decide whether they prefer a guaranteed path to the postseason or a return to the matchups that defined the sport.