Unless you are living under a rock, you are well aware of the SEC deciding to move to nine regular-season conference games starting in 2026, and now the question is, what does that mean exactly for Alabama? It means quite a few things, from the removal of the usual FCS opponent in November, a better chance of making the playoff, and possibly a change in the three guaranteed opponents Alabama will play each season. Adding another SEC game to the schedule is a fan's dream, especially for those who spend big bucks to watch the Tide play in person.
With the playoff committee putting a bigger emphasis on the strength of schedule means last year's nightmare of missing the playoffs with a 9-3 record may forever be eliminated. If strength of schedule had been a bigger part of last year's playoff selection criteria, there is a good chance that Alabama would have gotten in over other at-large bids like SMU or Indiana. Obviously, the SEC wasn't going to make the move to adding an additional regular season game without gaining some advantages, meaning a move to 16 teams making the playoff instead of 12 is probably soon to follow.
The number of playoff teams moving to a 16-team field in most seasons would almost guarantee the likes of a 9-3 Alabama team of always making the field each season. However, adding an additional SEC game adds risk, which may change who the three permanent teams will be for Alabama. We saw with the expansion of the league and elimination of divisions the three guaranteed opponents becoming rivals Auburn, LSU, and Tennessee. Fans obviously don't want to see the three teams' permanent team change, but from Greg Byrne's perspective, that might not make sense. When you look at each conference member's permanent teams, there is a glaring inequality across the SEC.
As much as the Alabama decision makers would like to preserve rivalries such as the Iron Bowl and the Third Saturday in October, keeping LSU as the third team may not be an option going forward. It wouldn't be shocking if we see a team like Mississippi State move back onto the schedule as a yearly opponent. Remember, the Bulldogs remain as the team the Tide have played more than any other in SEC history. I am sure despite the rivalries teams would like to get Alabama off their permanent schedule as well despite the rivalries. It will be very interesting to see how much change we see in Alabama's permanent opponents starting next season.
Long-term moving to nine conference games may also change the type of opponents Alabama schedules in the non-conference. There has been a long history of the Tide starting off the season with a marquee game against powerhouses from one of the other power conferences, and that could possibly change a little as well. Moving to a ninth conference game will add to the strength of schedule automatically without having to play another football powerhouse to start the season. I would hope nothing changes with the ambitious approach to scheduling big-name non-conference opponents to start the season, but in reality, we may see it change sooner than later.
Alabama is a program that has thrived through many big changes to the SEC and college football in general over the years, and this newest change should do nothing more than strengthen this proud football program for the long term. Change can always be scary, and we know in anything if you don't embrace change as it occurs you will be left in the dust, which we all know that isn't part of the Tide's championship DNA.