Lincoln Riley Takes Cues from Nick Saban's Scheduling Strategy at Alabama

USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley is gearing up for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff and is looking to Alabama's scheduling approach under former coach Nick Saban as a blueprint for success.

Speaking at Big Ten Media Days, Riley highlighted the strategic scheduling that Saban implemented, which he believes was crucial for Alabama's playoff runs. Riley pointed out that Alabama's non-conference schedule often included one marquee game, two relatively easier opponents, and one late-season game that functioned as a de facto bye week, focusing not on entertainment but on championship preparation.

“‘Bama was ahead of the curve for years, I thought, on how they scheduled in the non-conference,” Riley noted, according to On3. “They didn’t schedule for their fans – they scheduled to win championships. My hope is we can do the best thing, schedule to win championships that includes a rivalry game for all that comes with that and all that it means. But if you get in the positions, you’ve got to make a decision on what the priority is.”

Riley now faces a critical decision regarding the continuation of USC's annual rivalry game against Notre Dame, especially as the Trojans transition into the Big Ten.

“I would love to,” Riley said about maintaining the rivalry with the Irish. “I know it means a lot to a lot of people. Again, the purist in you, no doubt. Now, if you get in a position where you’ve got to make a decision on what’s best for SC to help us win a national championship vs. keeping that? Shoot, then you’ve got to look at it.

Riley acknowledged that USC would not be the first team to potentially sacrifice a traditional rivalry game for the sake of playoff success. “Look all the way across the country. There’s been a lot of other teams (that) sacrificed rivalry games. I’m not saying that’s what’s gonna happen, but as we get into this playoff structure and if it changes and we get into this conference, we’re gonna learn something about this as we go and what the right and the best track is to winning a national championship. That’s gonna evolve.”

Riley's comments underscore the evolving landscape of college football, where strategic scheduling is becoming increasingly vital for teams aiming to compete for national titles.