Will Alabama Have to Pay Nearly $3.5M For Canceled Non-Conference Games?

Alabama could be on the hook for $3.5 million in payments to out-of-conference opponents on the 2020 schedule for games that will not be played now that the SEC has gone to a conference-only schedule. The Tuscaloosa News filed a record request that reveals the following payments for the 2020 season:

• Georgia State game, $1.3 million

• Kent State game, $1.75 million

• UT Martin game, $500,000

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, there could be some contractual language the lessens the financial blow here:

UA’s contracts with all three schools includes a clause that states, “In the event of … prohibitory or governmental authority, including that of the Southeastern Conference or the National Collegiate Athletic Association, making it impossible or impractical to play the game, both parties shall be relieved of any and all obligations of this agreement.”

The contracts also have breach clauses that could result in payouts. The penalty for breaching the Georgia State and Kent State contracts is $1 million and $500,000 for the UT Martin game.

USA Today’s college football finances page reports that Alabama had $164,090,889 in total revenues for 2019. One has to figure they’ll be fully capable of paying up to the OOCs who need that payday cash to keep their operations running.

You’d hate to see a financial argument break out after Alabama revealed this locker room to the college football world.

Attention to detail.

Take a look at what went into the best locker room in the country.#BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/v4JYTTEmdb

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) August 5, 2020