Saban urges regional conferences amid congressional scrutiny of college sports realignment
Speaking at a hearing on the proposed "Protect College Sports Act," Nick Saban criticised the Big Ten and ACC for geographic incoherence, arguing that institutions like USC should not face travel to distant rivals such as Rutgers.
Former Alabama coach Nick Saban has called for a return to regionally coherent conferences during a congressional hearing regarding the proposed "Protect College Sports Act." Speaking to lawmakers, Saban argued that the current trajectory of conference realignment has created geographic structures that are detrimental to student-athletes, particularly regarding the excessive travel burdens imposed on non-revenue and revenue sports alike.
Saban pointed to the Big Ten and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as primary examples of this trend, noting that both organisations have expanded to include institutions that are geographically distant from their traditional footprints. He cited the inclusion of West Coast teams in the Big Ten and the presence of teams from the Bay Area and Texas in the ACC as evidence of a shift away from regional cohesion that prioritises commercial interests over logistical practicality.
The former coach specifically highlighted the disparity created by these alignments, stating it is unfair for athletes at institutions such as the University of Southern California (USC) to be required to travel to distant locations like Rutgers for competitions. Whether for football or field hockey, Saban described the necessity of such long-distance travel as "crazy" and contrary to the best interests of the student-athletes involved.
The hearing comes against a backdrop of continued movement within the Group of Five conferences, with Texas State joining the new Pac-12, Northern Illinois moving to the Mountain West, and FBS newcomer Sacramento State playing in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). These shifts have further complicated the geographic landscape of college sports, creating what observers have described as geographic oddities that exacerbate travel headaches for athletic departments.
While conference realignment has long been driven by the desire to maximise conference revenue and improve the college football product, Saban’s intervention adds a prominent voice to the growing concern over travel demands. Although the SEC underwent significant expansions during Saban’s tenure with the Crimson Tide, those moves largely preserved the conference’s geographic footprint in the southeast, contrasting sharply with the current coast-to-coast expansions seen in other major conferences.
The comments, reported by Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, underscore the tension between the financial incentives driving realignment and the operational realities faced by universities. As the "Protect College Sports Act" moves through legislative consideration, Saban’s testimony highlights the ongoing debate over whether federal or institutional intervention is required to restore regional balance to college athletics.
