Nick Saban criticizes proposed 24-team Playoff format: ‘It’s about the money’
By Jacob Moss
Published:
One of the biggest stories in college football over the past few weeks has been the discussions by the sport’s power brokers to potentially expand the College Football Playoff field to 24 teams starting next season.
The anticipated move has sparked another round of debate regarding the current direction of college football, with fans, analysts and coaches from across the country all voicing concerns about doubling the current playoff field.
Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban has been one of the most outspoken critics of the changes taking place throughout the sport in recent years, and he shared his thoughts on this latest development during an appearance on the New Heights podcast Friday morning.
“It’s too many,” Saban said when asked for his opinion. “There’s not 24 teams in the country that can win the National Championship. So, what is the reason to actually do it? It’s about the money.
“If we just put the right 12 teams in and didn’t go through all the political BS that we went through so we can have a 12-team Playoff, and end up putting a couple of teams in that shouldn’t be in, and then some other teams that didn’t get in should have gotten in. That was a good tournament.”
Saban also expressed concerns about ending conference championship games, particularly in the SEC.
Saban’s comments echo concerns expressed by several prominent figures throughout college football about the growing influence of money in the sport. Critics worry that those making decisions at the highest levels are increasingly prioritizing revenue over the tradition and competitive spirit that has long defined on of America’s most cherished past times.
The expansion to a 24 team playoff is just the latest in a long series of changes that have reshaped the sport this decade, and, as Saban suggests, it all boils down to making more money.
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