Major change seems to be on the horizon for the College Football Playoff, change Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer understands.
The CFP is expected to expand to include 24 teams with expected elimination of conference championship games. For DeBoer, it's an opportunity for teams, like Alabama, to continue to schedule "big games outside of the conference."
"That's certainly the trend right now with a lot of programs is play your three or four non-conference games that are more winnable and then, you know, stay away from the big matchups, which really enhances college football," DeBoer told The Tuscaloosa News. "More teams get in. You argue that there's a little but more room for error, and you know, those games (are) more likely to happen. You know, someone's going to be on the wrong end of it, and it could be two teams that are both playoff worthy, so the hit isn't quite as much."
DeBoer said Alabama has marquee games scheduled already "without knowing what those playoff numbers are going to look like," games like a home-and-home against Ohio State in 2027 and 2028 and a home-and-home against Notre Dame in 2029 and 2030.
According to multiple reports, the 24-team field would include 19 at-large bids, each of the Power 4 conference champions, determined by each league, and the highest-ranked Group-of-6 team. The top eight seeds would earn a first-round bye followed by a second-round home game. Seeds nine through 16 will host first-round games.
Teams would play up to 12 regular season games, a season that starts the weekend before Labor Day — colloquially known as Week 0 — and ends the weekend after Thanksgiving. Teams are expected to get a week off the first weekend in December before the first round kicks off.
"Everything that goes along with the playoff is so awesome, where it's win or go home," DeBoer said. "Just been a part of that at, you know, now at different levels, and that feeling is fun to be a part of where it's all on the line and, you know, it's get it done or you're done."
With the expected erasure of conference championship games, DeBoer feels an SEC championship always remains the goal, but that it's something that points to something bigger.
"I want to win an SEC championship, there's no doubt," DeBoer said. "But, I think, in the end, a national championship is still what this fan base and other fan bases all truly care about is having that chance to get in the playoffs."
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: What does Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer think of CFP expansion?