The Alabama Crimson Tide lost 28-7 to the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game. The loss occurred close to the committee’s decision on the teams that’ll make the College Football Playoffs, and it led to questions about whether Alabama deserved a spot.
Right after the game, and just before the Big Ten Championship, Crimson Tide legend Mark Ingram made a stunning admission.
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“Conference championships matter. … I’ve got too much Bama in me, but you are out. Now, Miami and Notre Dame should both get in, in my opinion.” Ingram said during FOX’s pregame show on Saturday.”
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Luckily for Kalen DeBoer’s team, the CFP selection committee kept the Crimson Tide at No. 9 despite the loss in Atlanta before boosting the Miami Hurricanes to No. 10, thereby leapfrogging the Notre Dame Fighting Irish for the playoff’s final at-large bid on Selection Sunday.
Ingram appeared on Monday’s episode of The Triple Option podcast with co-hosts Urban Meyer and Rob Stone, and doubled down on his take.
“I think people misunderstood me. … I want Alabama in the Playoff. Do I think they belong there after that performance? No, I did not.”
“So me being unbiased, obviously the way they performed, BYU was out of the way. The way Alabama performed, I thought they would get dinged and be out, but I also understand the selection committee setting the precedent that championship games do matter. But also, BYU is out (due to) losing to the No. 4 team (Texas Tech) two times, so why that precedent was not set for the Big 12 (matters) as well. So, there are still a lot of questions.”
Mark Ingram spent three successful seasons with the Alabama Crimson Tide. He was a high-usage backup running back in his freshman season, before becoming one of the best players in college football over the subsequent two campaigns.
Ingram is the first player in Crimson Tide history to win the Heisman Trophy. He achieved the feat by rushing for 1,658 yards and 20 touchdowns on his way to winning the 2010 BCS National Championship Game.
Alabama up against Oklahoma in CFP first-round
The Alabama Crimson Tide (10-3) will start its College Football Playoffs journey with a matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners (10-2) in the first round. It’s a battle of collegiate powerhouses live on ABC/ESPN.
The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated four ranked opponents during the regular season. Those wins were against the Georgia Bulldogs, Vanderbilt Commodores, Missouri Tigers, and Tennessee Titans. Their losses were against the Florida State Seminoles, Oklahoma Sooners, and Georgia Bulldogs.
The Oklahoma Sooners beat five ranked teams. They were the Michigan Wolverines, Auburn Tigers, Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Missouri Tigers. Their sole losses of the campaign were against the Texas Longhorns and the Ole Miss Rebels.
The Alabama Crimson Tide will look to avenge their regular-season loss against Oklahoma when they face off in the first round of the playoffs.
Edited by Nick Igbokwe
