At some point in the next year, Alabama Football will join a majority of SEC teams and vote for a nine-game, regular season, SEC schedule. At least, that is the expected outcome. The impetus for the shift will be when ESPN agrees to a fee for the added games. Some in the SEC project the additional games could be valued at around $5M each.
When it comes, it will be said that Nick Saban does not like the change. It is highly doubtful that will be the case. Saban has talked about playing more tough opponents every season as far back as 2018.