As college football gears up for the much-anticipated transition to a 12-team playoff, legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban is not mincing words. In a candid appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay Saturday morning, Saban addressed the changing landscape of postseason college football. With the selection committee preparing to announce the first-ever 12-team playoff bracket, Saban made his position clear, delivering a firm message to coaches across the country: “There is not one coach in the country that should complain about the fact that they don’t get in the playoffs.”
Saban’s remarks came as the College GameDay panel previewed the SEC Championship Game and the upcoming College Football Playoff selection process. With the playoff field expanding, many are speculating on which teams will secure a spot, and Saban took the opportunity to defend his former team, the Alabama Crimson Tide, as they were shown as a projected 11th seed in the bracket.
Saban, who remains a key advisor to the Alabama program, made sure to highlight the Tide’s impressive resume, which includes victories over three top-15 teams. Despite their strong performance, Alabama’s chances of securing a spot in the playoff appeared in doubt due to a few unexpected losses earlier in the season. Nevertheless, Saban stood firmly in defense of the team, emphasizing that their strength of schedule and notable victories should be taken into consideration.
But beyond advocating for Alabama’s case, Saban’s message was a broader one for coaches and teams nationwide. The legendary coach, known for his no-nonsense attitude, underscored that teams who failed to make the playoff had only themselves to blame. According to Saban, every team that missed the cut this year did so because they “did not take care of business.” This declaration reinforces his belief that in a playoff system, the focus should remain on a team’s performance throughout the season, rather than relying on external factors or complaints.
The message is one that aligns with Saban’s coaching philosophy—he has long stressed the importance of execution, discipline, and focus. In his view, the new 12-team playoff system is designed to reward teams that perform consistently well over the course of the season, without allowing room for complaints or excuses. In a world where many coaches may voice their displeasure if their teams are left out, Saban is taking the opposite approach, advocating for accountability and personal responsibility.
Saban’s stance also reflects the growing sentiment around the College Football Playoff’s expansion. With 12 teams now in the mix, the window for teams to secure a spot has widened, but the stakes remain high. Teams will need to maintain their focus and avoid dropping crucial games if they want to earn one of the coveted playoff berths. The expanded format means that a team’s fate is now more in their own hands, and Saban’s remarks suggest that he expects coaches and players to embrace this new reality rather than complain about it.
As the College Football Playoff selection committee prepares to announce the final rankings, the landscape of college football is changing. Saban’s comments come at a pivotal moment, as the sport moves into an era of more inclusivity and opportunity. His “no complaining” edict is a reminder that while the playoff system is evolving, the core principles of success in college football—hard work, discipline, and focus—remain unchanged.
With the new 12-team bracket set to take effect, the game is shifting in ways that will test coaches and teams alike. Saban’s directive is clear: take care of business, and the playoff berth will follow.