In the new era of the 12-team playoff, one of college football’s most anticipated future matchups is now on the chopping block, revealing a deep philosophical divide between the SEC and programs like Ohio State. A former Alabama RB pointed out that the scheduled 2027 and 2028 home-and-home series between Alabama and Ohio State is “on the radar” to be removed. 

“These home-and-aways, like Alabama has a home-and-away against Ohio State. Why would you even do that?” Mark Ingram II said on the Triple Option Podcast on December 26.

“They’re talking about trying to not do that anymore. I don’t know if it’s going to get done or not, but it’s definitely on the radar to get that off the schedule. What benefit does it do you if you play that game close and they’re gonna hold it against you when it’s time to be voted into the playoffs?”

Mark Ingram’s words carry weight because of who he is and what he represents. 

His insight reflects a broader SEC concern that close losses, or even narrow wins, against elite non-conference teams may damage postseason positioning rather than enhance it. With the SEC moving to a nine-game conference schedule in 2026, that fear is becoming institutional.

From Ohio State’s perspective, the philosophy has remained consistent. Ryan Day has continued to schedule and defend high-profile non-conference matchups, even as other programs quietly reassess their value. The Buckeyes’ season-opening 14-7 win over Texas served as an early national barometer.

It validated OSU’s roster and playoff credentials. However, it also underscored why SEC programs are increasingly cautious. These games answer questions decisively, sometimes uncomfortably, and they do so before conference play even begins.

The SEC’s internal math explains the hesitation. A nine-game conference slate guarantees more losses among contenders. Adding another elite opponent outside the league introduces additional risk with limited upside.

Alabama’s own recent history illustrates the point. Despite losing a marquee non-conference road game against Florida State (31-17) earlier in the season, the Tide remained in playoff contention deep into December. 

It appears to be a repeat of early December 2025, when the University of Georgia announced the cancellation of its future home-and-home football series with the University of Louisville and NC State University. The act was a mutual agreement after scheduling changes, as both the SEC and ACC expanded their conference schedules.

If the Alabama-Ohio State series is ultimately canceled, the loss will not be due to competitive balance, but to the experience. These two programs have met only five times, all at neutral sites. Four of those meetings came in bowl games. One came in a season opener in New Jersey.

Fans have never seen Alabama play at Ohio Stadium, and Ohio State has never walked into Bryant-Denny Stadium. That absence has always felt temporary, but now it feels fragile. This is where intent collides with reality.

A series once celebrated is now facing a quiet reversal

When the home-and-home series was announced in 2020, the tone was unambiguous. The Buckeyes were set to host Alabama on September 18, 2027, before traveling to Tuscaloosa on September 9, 2028. It would mark the first regular-season meeting between the programs since 1986 and their first non-neutral-site games ever.

The teams last met on one of the sport’s biggest stages, the 2014 College Football Playoff semifinal at the Sugar Bowl, where Ohio State won 42-35 and went on to claim the national title. 

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Alabama AD Greg Byrne called it a commitment to elite competition and atmosphere. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban went further, citing the importance of non-conference series to the health of the sport and praising both Ohio Stadium and Bryant-Denny Stadium as premier environments. 

Those statements reflected a version of college football that prioritized proving ground over protection. 

Ohio State, currently preparing for the Cotton Bowl against Miami, still appears aligned with that vision. If Alabama steps away, it will not signal fear of competition. It will confirm that the sport’s incentives no longer reward it.