Paul Finebaum reveals another major college football program could soon be dodging the Ohio State Buckeyes on its schedule
Ohio State and Alabama may not happen in the future. Paul Finebaum believes that game is heading toward the Crimson Tide pulling out.
College football is ever-changing, and what the sport looks like now is likely to be different than five years from now. The Ohio State Buckeyes have adjusted well with time during the NIL era, and they should continue to pivot as needed.
Ohio State has a big home and away series starting with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2027, and that game looks to be in major jeopardy of not happening.
Paul Finebaum doesn’t think Alabama and Ohio State will be playing
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum appeared on 97.1 The Fan in Columbus and pointed to the new SEC setup as the reason the game may not be happening in 2027.
“I sincerely doubt the Alabama game is going to happen based on what I’ve heard from Alabama’s AD,” Finebaum stated. “He’s got a shaky situation there anyway with a coach that is in trouble. Georgia might do it because they’re a little more in-tune and aligned, but I really don’t think we’re going to go far and see those games.
“I know what Ross Bjork has said, and I know what [Chris] Del Conte has said, and other ADs have said, but the reality is that the ninth SEC game is going to be very costly for a lot of programs.”
Alabama has lost four games each of the last two seasons under Kalen DeBoer. Going to a nine-game SEC schedule makes things a bit more difficult and gives teams less reason to go and play premier teams from other conferences. If teams can’t lose more than two games and still get in, scheduling tough non-conference opponents may end up a thing of the past.
Ohio State and Texas are an example of what may be one of the final premier matchups between the Buckeyes and an SEC program for now. The Buckeyes’ handing Texas a Week 1 loss this past season was the difference in the 10-3 Longhorns not making the College Football Playoff. Of course, Texas could have just won its other games, but it’s not in that position if it wins Week 1.
If Alabama backs out of the scheduled game with Ohio State, I expect that it’ll set off a chain reaction for other teams to begin canceling other series. Teams want to play in the College Football Playoff, and if there’s no positive to playing big early-season non-conference games, if they can only hurt you, they won’t be playing them.
Ohio State could be looking to make a big change to its 2027 and 2028 schedule before long.
Ohio State Buckeyes News
Ohio State football’s recent visit with elite five-star player is already paying off in a big way for the Buckeyes
Ohio State is firmly in the mix to land one of the top players in the country from the 2027 recruiting class.
