Nick Saban Supports Five Power Conferences; 9th Conference Game For SEC Teams

Jan 5, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban speaks to the media during media day for the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Conference realignment has often been a hot topic in college football, but it finally seems like things are beginning to settle down. While the realignment is settling down and everyone is preparing for the College Football Playoff, the idea lingers in the back of everyone’s mind of five power conferences who could break away from the NCAA.

Among the supports of that idea is Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban. Saban spoke with al.com to express his support of the five power conferences.

“I’m for five conferences – everybody playing everybody in those five conferences,” Saban said via AL.com . “That’s what I’m for, so it might be 70 teams, and everybody’s got to play ‘em.”

That is an excellent idea.

If the five conferences would have 14 teams a piece, they could play a 13 game season within their respective conference. At the end of the “regular season,” the top two or four teams from each conference could come together for a playoff. This would allow a number of exciting match ups all season long and the thrilling playoff that college fans are hoping for.

A four-team playoff is an improvement, but it is going to leave a lot to be desired.

Another benefit from the power conferences is that it would eliminate any of the cupcake games from team’s schedules. Too often in college football there are teams who schedule FCS opponents and those who are clearly outmatched, which leads to unappealing games. By having the cream of the crop in a five conference schedule, we would get to see the top level match ups on a consistent basis.

This would be a win-win for all fans.

As for the SEC, Saban would approve of a ninth conference game in the meantime.

“Don’t they want to see good games and all that?” Saban said.

Much like the argument for five power conferences, the SEC would also benefit from adding conference games. They are without question the top conference in college football and the more that they play within the division the more entertaining it will be.

What do you think of the five power conferences and a ninth conference game for the SEC? Share your thoughts in the comments section and let us know if you think it is a good or bad idea.

Topics: Alabama Crimson Tide, Football, Nick Saban, Sec Football

Josh Sanchez

Josh majored in journalism at Seton Hill University and is currently Editor-in-Chief for FanSided.com and a member of the Football Writers Association of America. Prior to joining FanSided.com as editor, Josh was senior editor at NFLSpinZone.com, TheLandryHat.com, CagePages.com and NFLMocks.com. His work has been featured on various media outlets including: ESPN.com, SportsIllustrated.com, NFL.com, FOXSports.com and CBSSports.com. You can e-mail Josh at [email protected]

http://www.facebook.com/sandy.l.wise Sandy Leeth Wise

I with Nick, if he says it, I agree with it. RTR!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/bryant.caylor Bryant Caylor

I agree with saban
http://twitter.com/barkgrowlthink Matthew Holmes

I don’t like it. 13 conference games with no out-of-conference match-ups? I like seeing the early season non-conference games, although the powder puff games are bad. If the SEC stays with its current 14, under the above scenario, there would be no Florida-Florida State, no Georgia-Georgia Tech, and no South Carolina-Clemson. Or would the conferences realign again: part of the Big 12 join the Pac-12; part of the Big 12 join the SEC; and Florida, UGA, and South Carolina join the ACC?
http://www.facebook.com/revpapachop James Kirkley

I am a fan of college football. I am a fan of good football. And I am a fan of the SEC. Anytime you give me the chance to see more SEC football = good football, I am all for it. Unfortunately, there may be enough opponents to this idea to keep it from happening…ever. I fear that, even though “King Saban” said it, we are no closer to 5 (or 4 – 16 team) power conferences than we were in 1997 when the original BCS began. [And let's be honest, in retrospect, what were they thinking?] I would like to see an elite brand of college football, if that means segregating the elite teams in a new division (Div 1-A+), 4 or 5 power conferences, or more conference games, I’m all in. Just tell me who to email to make it happen. God bless, and Go Big Orange!
GamecockMac

Easy for the head coach of a team whose biggest rivals are in the conference to pitch this idea, but it’s never going to fly with programs like USC, UGA or UF in the SEC. You can’t just terminate their century-old in-state rivalries.
http://www.facebook.com/knguy26 Khoi Nguyen

The coaches or AP poll can get the ballpark of the top 4 teams….and the playoff system can determine the national championship.
http://www.facebook.com/tommy.johns.712 Tommy Johns

Maybe Nick should start with getting the same amount of recruits as everyone else and stop over signing every year.
Anonymous

There’s already no Kansas-Missouri, no Texas-Texas A&M, whine away SEC. You play the most cupcakes of any conference and it’d be more exciting for fans who don’t want to pay to see Gulf Coast State vs Florida. Even better watching on the new SEC Network. Why didn’t the SEC just invite Florida State and Clemson and Georgia Tech instead of Missouri and Texas A&M? The SEC ruined the traditional rivals of Texas and Kansas. Tough.
http://www.facebook.com/ReadR00ster.Bon.Bon.336 Chris Nottelling

There should be 2 conferences. 1. The SEC 2. everyone else. Let them have their little playoff and the winner of that can play the SEC champion for the National Championship.