By Cole SullivanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Alabama Crimson Tide made headlines on Tuesday, just days ahead of their massive showdown against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season and beyond, Alabama announced a somewhat surprising schedule change, one that could have major implications for college football given the current College Football Playoff criteria and format.
Previously, Alabama had scheduled South Florida for their 2026 season, but that game was pushed to 2032. In its place, they added a matchup against Chattanooga. The Crimson Tide also added games against East Carolina next season and Marshall in 2027.
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While these moves don’t slight the new opponents, many believe powerhouse programs like Alabama should be scheduling tougher competition during the season.
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit noted shortly after the news broke that this approach could influence other programs across the country, as more teams might avoid riskier matchups to protect their playoff chances.
"Get ready to see this happen all over the sport," Herbstreit said. "If it’s only about how many wins ya have and not who you’re playing and where you’re playing you’re gonna see every AD make these same moves. Kiss meaningful non conference games in late August and early September goodbye. Cupcakes moving forward till teams get to conference play."
...This debate has gained attention recently with the three-loss Texas Longhorns, who are on the outside looking in despite starting their season with a Week 1 showdown against No. 1 Ohio State—arguably the toughest non-conference game any team could have scheduled.
But if the committee punishes them for that September loss while two-loss teams with weaker non-conference schedules are rewarded, it could create a ripple effect, influencing how programs approach scheduling in the future.
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