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Mark Ingram calls out College Football Playoff committee for leaving Alabama out

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•12/12/24•

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John David Mercer | USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday, the selection committee excluded Alabama from the College Football Playoff, giving SMU an at-large berth instead. During this week’s episode of The Triple Option, former Alabama running back Mark Ingram ripped the selection committee for their decision.

“I’m hurt. I’m scolded,” Ingram said. “I think it wasn’t the right decision, especially with the ACC team that is in a weak conference. Quite frankly, they’re in a weak conference.

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“And guess what? Nobody’s complaining about the Big 12 runner-up not getting punished. You get punished for losing. You get punished for losing a weak conference championship game.”

SMU finished the regular season 11-1 and lost to Clemson in the ACC Championship. Meanwhile, Alabama went 9-3 and missed the SEC Championship but had a stronger strength of schedule.

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SMU didn’t face a difficult conference schedule this season, with the ACC down as a league in general. Nonetheless, the Mustangs also lacked strong opponents in their non-conference schedule, facing only two Power Four foes outside of conference play.

While Alabama’s non-conference schedule wasn’t particularly strong either, it faced a gauntlet in conference play. Alabama finished the regular season with wins over Georgia, South Carolina and Missouri; each of which finished in the selection committee’s top 25 rankings.

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Despite Alabama’s undeniably better wins, SMU had fewer losses. Moreover, denying SMU a spot in the CFP would’ve set a precedent for the future that teams will be punished for losses in conference championship games.

However, Mark Ingram argues the selection committee already set this precedent by not giving Big-12 runner-up Iowa State a berth in the CFP.

“You don’t get punished for a Big Ten championship game when it’s No. 1 versus No. 3. You don’t get punished for [losing] the SEC championship game when it’s No. 2 versus No. 5,” Ingram said. “When you play the eighth team versus the No. 17 team and you lose, you get punished for it.

“Nobody’s complaining about the Big 12 runner-up. So, if you play in a weak conference you got to win your conference, and if not you, get booted.”

Instead of preparing for the CFP, Alabama now has to recompose itself for a showdown against Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The two teams will square off at noon ET on Dec. 31. The game will air live on ESPN.