Nick Saban shares concerns over length of season with expanded College Football Playoff

One of the great traits that Alabama head coach Nick Saban has shown over the years is an ability to adapt to the changes that have come to college football. One of the biggest changes coming is the expanded College Football Playoff.

During an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Saban shared his thoughts on the expanded Playoff and changes coming to the sport.

“I think about that,” Nick Saban said. “I think about it in the offseason a lot when these changes and transitions are being made. We’ve completely in the last five, six years totally changed the whole tradition and all the things that make college football what it’s always been. And I’m not saying that’s a good or bad thing, but it is a big change.”

One thing that Saban has noticed change over the years is how players and fans treat bowl games. He expects that change to continue in an expanded Playoff.

“At one time, bowl games were the biggest thing in the world. I mean, we went to the Sugar Bowl when I was at LSU in like 2001 or whatever and it was like the biggest thing that ever happened. We played in the Sugar Bowl last year, and it was like, who’s gonna play in the game, how many guys want to play in the game? So, we changed that dynamic dramatically. I think the Playoff had a lot to do with that, which is great for the fans. It does give us a better opportunity to find out who the best teams are, but when you go to a 12 team Playoff, you’re going to sort of minimize the importance of the bowl games even further, which I think we’ve already done that to a large degree,” Saban said.

“So, that’s probably okay. I do think the whole conference realignments are changing the whole traditions of rivalries and college football and regional-type games, and that’s one thing that we’ve done in the SEC is even though we’ve expanded we still have the same geographical footprint, which I think is probably good for fans as well.”

However, if there is one major problem that Nick Saban is concerned about in an expanded Playoff, it’s how many games college players are going to be expected to play.

“So, there’s a lot of ways to look at it, but it is what it is and you have to be able to adapt to it and adjust. My only concern about the 12-team Playoff is how many is a player in college going to play. Like, if you play 12, and SEC Championship Game, and you’ve got to play three or four playoff games, that can get to be quite a long season for these young guys, and they’re still going to college to get an education and we shouldn’t change that.” Saban said.

“So, it is what it is, is all I can say. My focus is how do we adapt to it so that we can be competitive in whatever the environment is that’s presented to us actually is.”

Nick Saban called retirement rumors laughable

Nick Saban has heard the rumors that he is close to retirement. However, for now, those rumors are apparently laughable.

“It’s kind of laughable. I guess I would ask you: When’s the first time you heard I was going to retire? That started about five years ago. I think it creates some advantages for people, whether it’s in recruiting or whatever it might be,” Saban said.

“I love what I’m doing, I’m focused on the challenge. I’ve always said I don’t want to ride the program down, I don’t want to do this if I can’t do it anymore. I feel great right now. I love it. We’ve got lots of challenges this season, I’m looking forward to it and we’re all-in.”