Nick Saban doubles down demand for CFP rankings rethink with expansion imminent

Nick Saban has been a huge figurehead in college football for the best part of four decades.

After retiring from coaching in 2023, having spent the previous 17 seasons spearheading the Alabama Crimson Tide and winning six of his seven National Championships, Saban joined the College GameDay crew.

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Since then, he has consistently defended college football teams who play the toughest schedules - mainly those who play in the SEC - especially when they lose.

Of course, when the 12-man committee meet to determine who should be included in the College Football Playoff, strength of schedule is one of a number of key components of criteria that they consider.

But Saban made the argument on Saturday that some losses could be considered as 'better' than some wins, and suggests that the committee should reward those teams who pit themselves against the more elite competition.

“Players love to play in big games. That’s what great competitors love to do. Fans love to see big games," Saban said.

"I think what we’ve created now is a system of how many games you win helps you get into playoffs, and the playoffs become the barometer for the success of your program.

“We need a better metric to actually evaluate quality wins and quality losses. Some losses are better than some wins."

Saban went on to use Texas as the prime example, just hours before the longhorns stunned No. 1 Ohio State by erasing a 20-point deficit in the fourth quarter to complete a 24-23 comeback.

“Like last year, Texas lost to Ohio State. Is that better than them beating Texas State?” he explained.

“I think there’s got to be some metric with the committee that evaluates those things a little better, so we get the best teams in the playoff.”

Co-analyst Desmond Howard largely agreed with Saban, arguing that the top players in the country relish those opportunities to go out and compete with the best.

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"To be the best, you have to beat the best," Howard stated, before going against the view that some hold that some teams will avoid playing huge marquee matchups in a bid not to dent their chances of being selected for the CFP.

“I don’t understand this whole philosophy of, ‘Well, we may not want to play this game because if we lose,’” Howard said. “That was not even into my vernacular back then.”

This was a view which Saban shared, interjecting: “And it makes you better as a player. Great competition makes you better.”

CFP expansion decision expected soon

Whilst Saban continues to double down on his views over SOS, it is something that the CFP have already begun to implement in their selection process.

In 2024, 11-1 Indiana and 11-2 SMU both made the CFP over Alabama and Ole Miss, who each had a 9-3 record.

For 2025, the CFP introduced the 'record strength' metric, which sought to grant more credit to those teams who performed well against tougher opponents with more quality.

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When evaluating losses against these opponents, they were penalised less, but it also applies the other way, with wins over lesser opponents somewhat devalued more.

Currently, the CFP is comprised of 12 teams, but it is appearing more and more likely that it will soon expand to 24 - possibly as soon as the 2027 season.

This comes after leaders of the CFP agreed to open a 30-day negotiating window with ESPN.

"The CFP has decided to move forward in its evaluation of potential Playoff expansion to 24 teams by beginning a media rights discussion with ESPN," the CFP said in a statement Tuesday, via ESPN.

"This does not represent a decision or commitment to expand, but rather an opportunity to engage with ESPN and gather additional information to help determine a path forward. The CFP will provide additional updates when appropriate."

A decision over possible expansion, which needs to be agreed by both the SEC and Big Ten Conference - who have the bulk control over the future format - needs to be made by December 1.

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