Kalen DeBoer jokingly makes Mark Ingram apologize for saying Alabama didn’t belong in CFP
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer didn’t forget what UA great Mark Ingram said about the Crimson Tide.
Before the Big Ten Championship Game, Ingram, an analyst for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, stated that Alabama did not deserve to make the College Football Playoff. Ingram advocated for both Miami and Notre Dame being included over Alabama after the Crimson Tide’s 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game.
The CFP selection committee opted not to penalize Alabama for its loss in the SEC title game, keeping the Crimson Tide at No. 9. Alabama not only made the Playoff but also won its first-round game and advanced to the quarterfinal round. Ahead of that Rose Bowl clash, DeBoer talked to Ingram on The Triple Option podcast. DeBoer playfully brought up Ingram’s past comments.
“When our producers reached out, they told me that, man, you have some requirements for me, man. What did you say I had to do, man, in order for you to get on the show?” Ingram said to open a clip with DeBoer.
“Maybe apologize. Maybe apologize for questioning where I used to be in the Playoff,” DeBoer said, smiling as Ingram laughed.
Ingram offered a “rat poison” defense before reiterating his Bama bonafides.
“I go harder for Bama than anybody in the nation. I go harder for you than anybody in the nation. And did I feel like we left our destiny in the committee’s hands? Yes, I did,” Ingram told DeBoer.
“But at the end of the day, I root for Bama. I want Bama in the Playoff. I want Bama to win the natty.
“I want Bama to ball every single time we on the field. So I do apologize. And you know, I’m the ultimate King Gump.”
Any Alabama fans worried about the coach having it out for the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner can rest assured that all seems well between DeBoer and Ingram.
“I was throwing the rat poison out there.”@markingramII and @KalenDeBoer
— The Triple Option (@3xOptionShow) December 23, 2025
discuss Mark saying the committee could have left @AlabamaFTBL out of the #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/3smOh6Wss9
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
