Is Nick Saban's Dream for a Unified Power 5 Realistic?

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — There’s been a definite theme to Nick Saban’s offseason, at least when he gets in front of cameras.

The Alabama coach, who has never been afraid to speak his mind, was asked before his charity golf tournament Thursday whether he was in favor of the SEC’s new rule, banning transfers who had been kicked out of a previous school for serious misconduct like sexual assault or domestic violence.

He said no, he wasn’t, and then after expanding a little bit (and taking a slight, misinformed jab at Auburn), he sang a familiar tune:

"What I’m most concerned about—I just think that we should have the same rules in the SEC as all the other big five schools have. Because now we’re not just talking about the SEC. We’re talking about having a playoff, no different than the NFL. One division in the NFL doesn’t have different rules, different salary caps, different anything, because the league knows that parity is the best competitive balance that you can create.

"So when we pass rules that other people that we have to compete against, if that is really what’s best for the young people that we’re dealing with here, the student-athletes that we’re dealing with, then it should be best for everyone. Or otherwise we shouldn’t do it.

"So I’m hopeful that in some kind of way, we’ll be able to get the big five together under the NCAA’s supervision to try to create rules that we all see in the best interest of student-athletes, which I think we need to be thinking about here."

Saban has been lobbying for a level playing field among the Power Five all offseason—and for good reason. Right now, between graduate transfers, satellite camps and now this serious misconduct rule, the SEC is at somewhat of a disadvantage compared to the other leagues.

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

No, this isn’t whining, it’s a legitimate gripe in a sport that’s become uber-competitive. His comparison to the NFL playoffs is spot on. Power Five teams are now all competing against each other for the same prize—rather than within their conference to qualify for certain bowls—and should play under unified rules on and off the field.

But how realistic is this proposition? Can Saban and the Power Five coaches and programs all come together under the same roof to create a level playing field?

On most issues, like transfer rules and satellite camps, the leagues should be able to come to an agreement, whether the SEC agrees with them or not. But on others, like cost of attendance, there’s always going to be some disparity.

"Every university is different, has different philosophies, traditions, ways of doing things," Georgia coach Mark Richt said at SEC spring meetings in Destin, per USA Today’s Dan Wolken. "I think with the autonomy of that group, we're going to get closer and closer but to get everybody on the same page like that, I don't know if it's possible."

There’s no reason everyone can’t agree on most of the major issues. And to protect the integrity of the game, with the direction it’s headed, they should.

Everyone should play under the same rules when it comes to transfers and player discipline. Otherwise, the SEC will be at a disadvantage in certain areas.

And there seems to be a desire to get this done, at least among some coaches.

"Are we playing by a different set of rules than, say, the Pac-12 or the Big Ten?" Florida coach Jim McElwain said, per Wolken. "I think we need, as college football in general, to make sure we're all on the same playing field."

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

But there is one area where it’s going to be hard to find much consensus: cost of attendance.

The intent behind cost of attendance is innocent enough. Athletes should be compensated at minimum enough to live a comfortable lifestyle, beyond their books, schooling and room and board.

And it’s unrealistic to think that $3,000 goes as far in Los Angeles, Chicago or Miami as it does in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Chapel Hill, North Carolina or Eugene, Oregon.

But schools can take advantage of that and use it in recruiting.

"I've been in recruiting for 20 years, and I know that it will definitely be used," Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema said, according to Bleacher Report’s Barrett Sallee. "I know at Arkansas, we're on the higher end (of the pay scale) than some of our competition. In recruiting, if it's not equal, it's really not fair. You're always going to use an advantage."

It’s hard to see a resolution to the cost-of-attendance issue outside of just a plain open market where players can get as much money as they please.

Until then, even if some other issues become unified under the Power Five, inequity will exist, whether Saban likes it or not.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and reporting were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.