Through resounding head-to-head victories and by luring away elite west coast recruits, Alabama has played a central role — as significant as any single entity — in the Pac-12’s disappearance from college football’s main stage.
But recent comments from coach Nick Saban and athletic director Greg Byrne suggest the Crimson Tide could facilitate the conference’s eventual revival.
Saban and Byrne have publicly stated their preference for stout non-conference schedules, not only for Alabama but all major college programs.
Saban has argued that Power Five teams should play only Power Five opponents, although he has also endorsed a more reasonable end game that would suit the Pac-12’s needs just fine:
That Power Five teams schedule at least 10 Power Five opponents.