Alabama’s recruiting efforts and the ongoing debate over the SEC’s conference schedule format:
🏈 Jett Washington: Alabama’s Recruiting Pursuit
Jett Washington, a 6’5″, 200-pound five-star safety from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, is a top recruit in the 2026 class. He is also the nephew of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Washington recently narrowed his college choices to 11 schools, including Alabama, Oregon, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, UNLV, and USC .
Alabama has shown strong interest, with head coach Nick Saban and staff engaging with Washington. Oregon has also been actively recruiting him, with head coach Dan Lanning visiting Washington in Las Vegas to discuss the program and its vision . Washington is planning official visits to both Alabama and Oregon, indicating a competitive race for his commitment.
🏟️ SEC Schedule Debate: 8 vs. 9 Conference Games
The SEC is deliberating whether to maintain its current eight-game conference schedule or expand to nine games following the addition of Texas and Oklahoma.
✅ Arguments for Nine Games
- Enhanced Competition: Schools like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Texas A&M, and Florida favor a nine-game schedule to increase the level of competition and better prepare for the College Football Playoff .
- Revenue Growth: An additional conference game could lead to increased television revenue and fan engagement .
❌ Arguments for Eight Games
- Scheduling Flexibility: Programs with less national championship aspirations may prefer eight games to maintain flexibility in scheduling non-conference opponents .
- Financial Considerations: Home games are significant revenue sources, and playing five road games every other season could impact financial stability .
