Could Ohio State vs. Alabama Be the Next Marquee Matchup to Disappear?
Back in 2020, when the world was scrambling for a sense of normalcy, college football delivered a much-needed jolt of excitement. That season gave us a national championship clash between two of the sport’s bluebloods: Ohio State and Alabama. It was a game packed with star power - DeVonta Smith, Justin Fields, Najee Harris, Chris Olave - and it capped off two impressive seasons defined by resilience amid COVID-19 restrictions.
But even before that title game in Miami, the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide had already circled future dates on the calendar. The two programs had agreed to a home-and-home series, with the first matchup set for Columbus in 2027 and the return trip to Tuscaloosa in 2028.
Now, nearly six years after that agreement, the future of that series is suddenly murky.
Alabama Backing Out?
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum recently floated the idea that Alabama might be looking for a way out of the series. That would be a major shift - and not one Ohio State is expecting. Buckeyes athletic director Ross Bjork addressed the situation, saying he hasn’t heard anything from Alabama or Georgia (another future OSU opponent) suggesting they want to cancel.
“I have not heard from my colleagues at those schools that they’re interested in not playing those games, even though they’re going to nine [SEC] games,” Bjork said. “I think they view those high-power matchups - if anything, right now you play them and you win, and then you’re in a great spot.”
Bjork’s point is valid. In the current College Football Playoff landscape, beating a top-tier opponent early in the season can be a major resume booster. But that’s also the problem - the margin for error is razor-thin.
The Risk of a Loss in the 12-Team Playoff Era
Since the CFP moved to a 12-team format, the fear of stacking up losses has grown. So far, no 9-3 team has earned an at-large bid.
That’s made programs more cautious about loading up their schedules with heavyweight nonconference games. And with the SEC moving to a nine-game conference slate, the idea of adding Ohio State to the mix becomes even more daunting for Alabama.
But change could be coming - again.
The Big Ten is reportedly pushing for a 24-team playoff format that would begin with two seasons of a 16-team field starting in 2027, before expanding further. That’s right in the window when Ohio State and Alabama are scheduled to meet.
So, what would that mean for the series?
A 16-Team Playoff: More Access, Same Dilemma
Under the proposed 16-team format, the field would likely include five automatic bids and 11 at-large spots. On the surface, that sounds like more breathing room. But history tells us that even with a larger field, a four-loss team is still a long shot to make the cut.
In fact, since the start of the CFP, only three four-loss teams have cracked the top 16 of the final rankings - 2016 Auburn, 2017 Stanford, and 2018 Texas. Last season, the highest-ranked four-loss team was Iowa at No. 23.
That’s where things get tricky for Alabama. With Kalen DeBoer now at the helm, the Crimson Tide have finished with three losses in each of his first two seasons.
Add a ninth SEC game and a trip to Columbus, and suddenly an 8-4 finish doesn’t seem far-fetched. And in this format, that could be enough to keep them out of the playoff.
It’s worth noting that Alabama has consistently scheduled Power Four nonconference opponents throughout the CFP era. But that run came under Nick Saban, and with a lighter eight-game conference schedule. The landscape is shifting, and so are the calculations.
Could Automatic Bids Save the Series?
One potential solution that’s been floated: more automatic bids. A 16-team format that guarantees the Big Ten and SEC at least four playoff spots each could change the equation. That setup would emphasize conference records over overall records, giving teams more flexibility to schedule marquee nonconference games without as much fear of playoff elimination.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day is on board with that idea. Speaking last year about the Buckeyes’ home-and-home series with Texas, he made it clear that automatic qualifiers would encourage more bold scheduling.
“If you don’t have those automatic qualifiers, you’re less likely to play a game like we’re playing this year against Texas, because it just won’t make sense,” Day said.
Still, there’s a philosophical question here: If the stakes are lower, do these games still carry the same weight?
The Changing Meaning of Nonconference Games
Two decades ago, when Ohio State and Texas squared off in a home-and-home, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The winner of each game went on to play for a national title.
The loser? Their season was effectively over.
That kind of drama is rare in today’s game - and would be even rarer under a 16- or 24-team playoff. The expanded field offers more paths to the postseason, which means fewer “must-win” moments in September.
Take college basketball as a parallel. Duke and Michigan State might meet in December, and while the game is entertaining, it doesn’t define the season.
Both teams are still headed to the NCAA Tournament. The same could be true for Ohio State vs.
Alabama in the future - a fun, high-profile matchup that doesn’t make or break a season.
But let’s be honest: fans would still much rather see the Buckeyes take on the Crimson Tide than a Group of Five opponent. Even if the stakes are lower, the spectacle remains.
The Bottom Line: Risk vs. Reward
At the heart of this debate is risk aversion. An expanded playoff lowers the penalty for a loss, but it doesn’t erase it. For every fan excited about a heavyweight nonconference showdown, there’s a coach or AD wondering if it’s worth the gamble.
And both perspectives are valid.
That’s the reality of modern college football. As the sport continues to evolve, so too will the scheduling philosophies. For now, the Ohio State-Alabama series remains on the books - but in a world where postseason access is everything, nothing is guaranteed.
One thing’s for sure: if the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide do meet in 2027, it’ll be must-watch football. Let’s just hope the powers that be don’t take that away.