Does the playoff snub really discourage top SEC teams from scheduling tough non-conference games?

I’m confused about the recent talk surrounding Alabama’s playoff exclusion. Some folks are saying it’ll make top SEC teams less likely to schedule tough out-of-conference (OOC) games. But that doesn’t add up.

Look at Bama’s OOC lineup this year. It was pretty weak, right? They faced Western Kentucky, South Florida, Mercer, and Wisconsin. Not exactly a murderers’ row of opponents.

If anything, a strong OOC win might’ve helped their case. But they didn’t have that card to play.

It seems like some people, including Coach Saban, are spinning this into a reason not to schedule tough OOC games. But isn’t it more likely that their weak showing against Oklahoma was the real problem?

What do you all think? Am I missing something here? It just feels like people are reaching for excuses instead of facing facts.

Man, this playoff drama is wild. Bama’s schedule was pretty soft this year. I think teams will keep doing what they’ve always done - mix in some easy wins with maybe one big game for the hype. It’s all about finding that sweet spot between looking good and not risking too much.

Good point about Bama’s schedule.

Strong OOC games can definitely boost a team’s resume.

But there’s always a risk-reward calculation.

Some might play it safe, others might schedule tougher to stand out.

Nah, weak OOC schedules were already common.

The playoff snub probably won’t change much.

Teams will keep doing what they’ve been doing, mixing in a big game here and there for the ratings.

Playoff snubs happen. It’s not just about the schedule.

Teams gotta balance easy wins and tough games.

Bama’s loss to Oklahoma probably hurt more than their weak OOC lineup.

Yeah, the playoff snub thing is overblown.

Top SEC teams have been avoiding tough non-conference games for years. It’s all about padding their records.

Bama’s weak schedule this year proves it. If they really wanted a playoff spot, they should’ve scheduled better.

Saban’s just making excuses. The truth is, they didn’t perform when it mattered most.