Nick Saban isn’t one to mince words, and on Thursday, he added his voice to a growing debate in college football: Should the Group of 5 have its own playoff?
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Saban made his stance clear - and he didn’t tiptoe around it. Using a baseball analogy that cut straight to the point, the legendary coach compared allowing Group of 5 teams into the College Football Playoff to inviting a Triple-A baseball champion into the MLB postseason.
“Would we allow the winner of the Triple-A Baseball League, the International League, whatever they call it, would you let them in the World Series playoffs?” Saban asked. “That’s the equivalent of what we do when JMU gets into the College Football Playoff and Notre Dame doesn’t.”
The context here is important. Both Tulane and James Madison - champions of the American and Sun Belt conferences, respectively - earned spots in this year’s expanded CFP.
But they’re entering the postseason as heavy underdogs, facing Ole Miss and Oregon in the first round. Meanwhile, Notre Dame, ranked No. 11 in the country, was left on the outside looking in.
Tulane was ranked No. 20.
JMU? No.
For Saban, that disparity in rankings underscores a fundamental flaw in the current format. His argument isn’t just about who gets in - it’s about who gets left out.
“If you’re not in the Top 15, I don’t care what league you play in, you shouldn’t be in the playoffs,” Saban said. “JMU, whoever it is … it doesn’t matter, because you’re taking somebody out of the playoffs that deserves to be in the playoffs. That’s not fair.”
This isn’t just a gripe about rankings. It’s a broader critique of how the playoff system balances inclusivity with competitive integrity.
Saban’s suggestion? Give the Group of 5 its own playoff.
And don’t just send them off quietly - make it worth their while.
“These guys ought to have their own playoff,” he said. “Just give them the money.
It’s $4 million for playing in the first round, is that right? Give them $4 million and put Notre Dame in.
We want to see Notre Dame and Oregon play.”
Saban’s comments come at a pivotal moment for the CFP. This year’s format eliminated first-round byes for conference champions, a move designed to create more balance in the bracket. But with that change comes renewed scrutiny over how teams are selected, and whether automatic bids for Group of 5 champions are helping or hurting the overall product.
There’s also talk of expanding the playoff to 16 teams, which could change the equation entirely - potentially giving more power-conference teams a shot while still allowing space for top-performing G5 programs. But until then, voices like Saban’s are going to keep pushing the conversation forward.
At the heart of it all is a simple question: What’s the playoff really for? Is it about rewarding conference champions, regardless of where they come from? Or is it about crowning the best team in the country - and making sure the road to that title runs through the toughest competition?
Saban’s take is clear. For him, the path to a national championship should be reserved for the best of the best. And if that means creating a separate postseason path for the Group of 5, so be it.