[Codeflier]

You understand Alabama can’t force other teams to play them? Alabama has a tough time finding quality non-conference opponents willing to play them. At least Wisconsin and Notre Dame have the guts to schedule games with Alabama in the next few years.

[Kaisersrsic]

Alabama would have no problem finding teams willing to schedule home-and-home series with them. There are 12 “regular season” games each year. The last time Alabama played 5 away games (ONE away game out of conference) was 2011. The next is at Texas in 2022, 11 years later.

Alabama prefers neutral site games both for the money and the experience. Because they regularly schedule neutral site games in Atlanta and Dallas, Alabama has an advantage in the SEC championship game and in playoff games. Here is some of the history:

2014 Season
Neutral Site Game: Alabama vs. WVU at Mercedes Stadium (Atlanta - Dome)
SEC Championship Game: at Mercedes Stadium
Playoff Game: Superdome

2015 Season
Neutral Site Game: Alabama vs. Wisconsin at AT&T Stadium
(Dallas - Dome)
SEC Championship Game: at Mercedes Stadium
Playoff Game: Alabama vs. Michigan State at AT&T Stadium (Dallas - Dome) + Arizona

2016 Season
Neutral Site Game: Alabama vs. USC at AT&T Stadium
(Dallas)
SEC Championship Game: at Atlanta Mercedes Stadium (Dome)
Playoff Games: Atlanta (Dome) + Tampa

2017 Season
Neutral Site Game: Alabama vs. Florida State at Mercedes Stadium (Atlanta - Dome)
SEC Championship Game: at Mercedes Stadium (Atlanta - Dome)
Playoff Games: Superdome + Mercedes Stadium

2018 Season
Neutral Site Game: Orlando (no match)

2019 Season
Neutral Site Game: Alabama vs. Duke at Mercedes Stadium (Atlanta - Dome)
SEC Championship Game: at Mercedes Stadium
Playoff Games: Mercedes Stadium or Fiesta Bowl + Superdome.

Congratulations to Alabama for being able to pull this off. But, they make their own schedule. If Alabama home games in September are unwatchable they have no room to complain.

[wrcase]

I understand they can’t force teams to play them, but the networks aren’t going to put guaranteed blowouts in prime-time. If Alabama wants quality opponents, they have to offer them something more than “you get to play us at our house and a southern neutral site game”.

[TomGuy]

Alabama has a tough time finding quality non-conference opponents willing to play them.

It is more than Bama. Many of the 'ranked' teams seem to be playing more opponents from relatively obscure schools -- such at Tweedlewink Community University and Day Care.

That seems to be a trend that has been going on for several years. If they cannot find competent competitors, the 'conferences' may need overhauling.