Leon O’Neal, former Texas A&M DB, recalls 2020 Playoff arguments, calls out Alabama bias this time

Leon O’Neal took issue with the running narrative that Alabama could make the College Football Playoff.

The former Texas A&M defensive back, who started 12 games last season, noted the similarities between this year’s Alabama team, and the Aggies from 2020, except the Aggies were left out of the Playoff despite a similar resume. “Man sit down with your bias … fixed it.”

The Aggies’ only loss that season was to Alabama, while a one-loss Notre Dame team made it into the College Football Playoff despite a similar loss, to Clemson.

O’Neal points out something that’s well-known in college football circles: the shifting landscape between a committee’s preference in a given year, and the number of contending teams.

O’Neal appeared in 48 games for the Aggies in a noteworthy career, and in his final season, O’Neal earned the Aggie Heart Award, Defensive Attitude Award and the Defensive Aggie Award for strength and conditioning at the annual team banquet. He was third on the team with 7 passes defended and tied for fourth with 58 total takedowns in his final season.

So let me get this straight people want Bama in even after losing 2 games but 2020 A&M didn’t get in because they lost lost one game week 2 to Bama… Man sit down with your bias… fixed it

— Leon O’Neal Jr (@WakeEmUp9) December 4, 2022

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.