Nick Saban calls to make college football 'like the NFL'

Alabama head coach Nick Saban has never been afraid to express his opinion on issues facing the college football landscape. At the SEC Spring Meetings, he discussed his thoughts on college football in general, saying it is time to take a professional approach to the sport.

“Unionize it, make it like the NFL,” Saban said, according to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy. “Make it the same for everyone. Everything they do for NFL is to create parity. If they have every team at 8-8 going into final week of the season, the NFL would love it.”

This comes after Saban seemed to take a nonchalance approach to the debate of whether the SEC should have eight or nine conference games every football season.

“Things go into this like TV contracts. I’m sure a lot of those things will factor into it,” Saban said. “I’ve always been in favor of playing all games against Power 5 opponents.”

Paul Finebaum surprised conference games decision not settled yet

While Nick Saban said that he is fine with whatever happens with conference schedule, SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum is surprised a resolution has not been reached. He joined McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning on Monday ahead of the meetings and expressed that opinion.

“I’m surprised that we are now here on the first day of the spring meetings and this conversation is unresolved in relation to where we thought we would be. But it does seem to be the reality,” Finebaum said. “Exactly what has happened? I’m not certain. The speculation seems to be there could not be an appropriate accommodation to pay for those games that would allow the league to feel it was worth moving toward nine games.

“But if you had asked me a year ago would we have nine games in the final two days of May in 2023, I would’ve said yes. I would’ve put everything on it, and I think you guys probably would have, as well.”