‘How Much Is Too Much?’ — Nick Saban Sounds Alarm Over College Football Playoffs Expansion to 24 Teams

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Nick Saban understands why a bigger playoff sounds appealing. The more fan bases stay interested, the more teams get an opportunity, and the more players can picture themselves competing for a championship.

He also remembers how exhausted a team can be after 15 games. As college football considers expanding its postseason again, that is the part he wants everyone to stop and think about.

Nick Saban Questions the Workload of a 24-Team Playoff

During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Saban explained that his biggest concern with a 24-team College Football Playoff is how much football it could require from the players.

“We played 15 games three or four times. And that was a lot of games for college players,”Saban said.

The former Alabama coach acknowledged the appeal of opening the championship race to more programs. He pointed to the interest, opportunity, and hope that come with additional playoff spots.

His concern begins when those opportunities turn into more Saturdays on the schedule.

“I just get a little concerned about how much is too much when it comes to how many games a college player plays,” Saban said.

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He discussed the possibility of five playoff games on top of a 12-game regular season, while questioning what would happen to conference championship games. Under that scenario, a team without a first-round bye could face a 17-game season even without playing for a conference title.

That is a considerable assignment for a college roster. Saban’s experience taking teams deep into the postseason gave his concern a practical basis. He has coached through the preparation and physical demands that accompany those extra games.

The proposed expansion has already generated strong backlash among fans and commentators across college football. The CFP’s Oct. 15 statement said discussions with ESPN were continuing, with further updates on the format and media rights to come. It did not announce a finalized 24-team agreement.

Saban Prefers 16 Teams With Conference Titles Still at Stake

Saban offered a specific alternative when McAfee asked where he stood.

“I would be for 16. I think that would be a good compromise,” Saban said.

He would also keep conference championship games and potentially use them to help determine entry into the bracket.

“I would be for keeping conference championship games as maybe a play-in to the 16, which now you’d have 20 teams that had hope.”

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Saban quickly acknowledged that he did not believe the idea had much support. Still, his preference preserves another meaningful weekend for conference contenders while limiting the playoff field.

Earlier in the conversation, he also rejected the suggestion that changes in college football alone drove his retirement. He said players deserved compensation and stressed the importance of balancing it with education and personal development.

That same concern carried into his playoff answer. The extra opportunities are easy to celebrate. Saban wants the people designing the bracket to account for what reaching the final would actually demand from the players.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

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