Saban in favor of Power 5 exclusive schedule

Nick Saban has been the lone SEC advocate to discontinue games against FCS and Group of 5 schools, and Alabama's annual late-season bye game against an FCS foe brought his stance back to the forefront.

“Through the years I’ve been an advocate of playing all Power Five schools and more conference games. I know it’s a more difficult schedule, but I think it would be better for the fans,” Saban told Brian Stultz of Campus Insiders.

Saban has visions of a more pro style schedule, like he had for two years as head coach of the Miami Dolphins.

“I think if we played more like the NFL (it would be beneficial)," Saban said. "The New York Giants won the Super Bowl a few years ago and lost six games. So you play quality opponents every week, and probably end up losing more games, but I think at the end of the day it would be more competitive for everyone involved relative to the fans, players, selection committee, and everything that goes into it.”

An outright ban on any team not in the Power 5 conferences would improve the quality of any team's schedules, theoretically, while also adding more conference games. However, Boise State, BYU, and Houston would fall under the ban, taking away perennial top-25 teams and making those programs irrelevant.

Still, Saban doesn't plan on taking the subject any further, other than voicing his opinion.

“We have administrators, conference commissioners, athletic directors, and college presidents that are all in a position to make those kinds of decisions," Saban said. "We’ll just do whatever they decide is best for college football.”