Alabama football is reportedly weighing the possibility of canceling its future home-and-home series with Ohio State - and let’s just say, the college football world is having feelings about it.
The potential move has reignited a long-running conversation about how the College Football Playoff committee evaluates strength of schedule, especially in an era where the sport is shifting toward expanded playoffs and conference realignment. And while some see the decision as a step backward for marquee non-conference matchups, plenty of Alabama fans are pushing back - hard.
Let’s unpack it.
The Scheduling Dilemma
The Alabama-Ohio State series was supposed to be one of those heavyweight clashes fans circle on the calendar years in advance. Two blue-blood programs, national championship pedigrees, passionate fanbases - the kind of matchup that defines a season before it even begins.
But now, with the SEC moving to a nine-game conference schedule and the Playoff expanding, the calculus is changing. The cost-benefit of playing another powerhouse in the regular season just doesn’t look the same. And Alabama fans are making that point loud and clear.
One fan summed it up bluntly:
“The last 3 National Champions didn’t play a Power-4 team out of conference during their regular season. Thank the BIG10 for showing everyone else the way.”
That’s not just a shot at the current playoff format - it’s a not-so-subtle reminder that the path to a national title doesn’t necessarily run through high-risk, high-reward scheduling. In fact, it might run through the opposite.
Fans Fire Back
Another fan put it even more plainly:
“College football loses because Alabama doesn’t want to be the only team playing 11 Power-4 games in 2027?
Yea. Sure.
Ok. Lmao.”
It’s a fair point. If the rest of the top-tier programs are loading up on manageable schedules while still making the playoff, why should Alabama be the outlier? Especially when the committee hasn’t consistently rewarded strength of schedule over win-loss records.
And that’s the crux of the argument - not just for Alabama, but for any elite program trying to navigate this new postseason landscape. If the system doesn’t incentivize tough non-conference games, why schedule them?
“Last 3 national champions played terrible non-con schedules, but Alabama is the issue? I swear they always find something to yap about.”
That frustration is echoed across the fanbase. For Alabama supporters, this isn’t about ducking competition - it’s about playing the game the way it’s currently set up. And right now, the incentive structure favors wins over resume-building battles.
Strategic Scheduling in the Playoff Era
Another fan offered a more analytical take:
“The move to 9 conference games combined with what it looks like the committee is doing with SOS/SOR necessitates canceling these types of games IMO.”
Translation: When you’re already playing a gauntlet of SEC games - and now adding a ninth - there’s little upside in stacking your schedule with another elite opponent. Especially if the committee doesn’t give you credit for it.
And let’s not forget the human element here. Fans were genuinely excited for this matchup when it was announced.
The idea of Alabama and Ohio State clashing in a regular-season, home-and-home series? That’s the stuff college football dreams are made of.
But realism is creeping in.
“I have been looking forward to this game since it was announced. But really there is no logical reason for why Bama should schedule this over a more likely win like Rutgers. The same for OSU - they would be better scheduling a weak SEC team like Auburn.”
That jab at Auburn aside, the point stands. Programs are going to do what gives them the best shot at making the playoff. And in today’s environment, that often means minimizing risk - not maximizing spectacle.
The New Normal?
One fan put it in stark terms:
“In today’s landscape the term ‘blue blood’ means nothing.
Everyone is doing and should do what’s in their best interest. Bama has nothing to gain by playing that game.
Play 3 cupcakes, go 7-2 in a nine-game SEC schedule, you’re in the playoffs. That’s all that matters.”
Whether you agree or not, that’s the reality college football is facing. The expanded playoff was supposed to open the door for more teams - and it will. But it also may close the door on the kind of early-season, high-stakes matchups that fans love.
If Alabama does pull the plug on the Ohio State series, it won’t be the last domino to fall. Other programs will follow suit - if they haven’t already.
Because in this new era of college football, it’s not just about who you beat. It’s about how you play the game off the field, too - and scheduling has become one of the most strategic plays of all.