Nov 8, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban before a game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Earlier this offseason, Nick Saban addressed his concerns regarding the NCAA legislation that now allows schools to provide players with a stipend that covers the full cost of attendance (for standard student expenses beyond tuition). Saban called the calculation of the cost-of-attendance figure a "nightmare," specifically in regards to the discrepancies among schools since each institution determines its own figure for estimated expenses.
But as it turns out, Saban will be in a rather advantageous position in terms of cost-of-attendance stipends.
According to figures the school provided to CBS Sports over the weekend, Alabama will have one of the largest stipends in the country, with out-of-state players getting $5,386 per academic year and in-state players getting $4,172. Among SEC schools, only players at Tennessee ($5,666) and Auburn ($5,586) will receive higher amounts.
CBS Sports reports that the Alabama figures represent a 34 percent increase for out-of-state players and a 14 percent increase for in-state players from two years ago, which was the most recent data available. But university spokeswoman Deborah Lane told CBS Sports that the method of calculation has remained the same and that the increase is due in part to an higher campus housing costs and an increase in estimated travel costs, particularly for out-of-state students.
Not all schools have released their 2015-16 cost-of-attendance figures, so an accurate cost-of-attendance ranking isn't yet possible. But regardless, Saban and the Tide will be able to pitch a stipend higher than those of a large majority of their competitors.
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