In a significant shake-up within college football, Paul Finebaum recently hinted that Alabama might very well withdraw from its highly anticipated matchup against Ohio State. This potential cancellation comes on the heels of the SEC's decision to expand its conference games to nine, a change that threatens to eliminate some of the most exciting non-conference showdowns in the sport.
On his Saturday broadcast with 97.1 The Fan in Columbus, Finebaum revealed insights he gathered from Alabama's athletic director, Greg Byrne. According to Finebaum, the Crimson Tide is reconsidering their commitment to the series set for 2027 in Columbus and 2028 in Tuscaloosa. "Based on what I’ve heard from Alabama’s AD, I sincerely doubt the Alabama game will take place," Finebaum stated. He elaborated on the precarious nature of Alabama's current coaching situation, suggesting that while Georgia might proceed with their planned games, Alabama's circumstances could prevent them from following through. "The ninth SEC game is going to be very costly for many programs," he cautioned.
This isn’t solely a recent concern. Back in December, Mark Ingram discussed this very issue on his Triple Option Podcast with Rob Stone and Urban Meyer. He mentioned that Alabama was already contemplating ways to potentially opt out of the Ohio State series, questioning the wisdom of engaging in such a challenging matchup. "Why would you even do that?" Ingram asked, highlighting the pressures teams face when competing at the highest levels. He pointed out that even a close game could be detrimental to a team's reputation.
The rationale behind this cautious strategy stems from Texas’s recent experience, which serves as a warning for SEC teams. Texas faced off against Ohio State and navigated one of the toughest schedules in college football, finishing the season with a 10-3 record. Despite their efforts, the Longhorns were shut out of the playoff race, a situation that Dan Orlovsky and Kirk Herbstreit predicted would dissuade other SEC programs from scheduling elite non-conference opponents in the future.
If Alabama decides to back out of the Ohio State series, it will likely set off a ripple effect among SEC schools. Why would any team willingly engage in a demanding home-and-home series with a powerful Big Ten team when they are already contending with what they perceive to be the most challenging conference schedule?
As for Georgia, who has their series scheduled with Ohio State for 2030 in Columbus and 2031 in Athens, they may have a stronger chance of sticking to their commitment. Kirby Smart’s program seems more stable and successful compared to Alabama's current uncertainties. However, even Finebaum expressed skepticism about Georgia's ability to resist the same financial and competitive pressures that could eventually influence their decisions too.
While no official announcements have been made, and Ohio State’s athletic director Ross Bjork insists that the games remain scheduled, the growing sentiment indicated by Finebaum and echoed by Ingram suggests a shift in momentum towards cancellation is emerging.
This situation raises important questions: Should powerhouse programs like Alabama take risks with challenging non-conference games, or focus on securing favorable standings within their own conferences? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments!
