Charles Barkley went on a passionate rant about why he “can’t root for Alabama” in the College Football Playoff while sitting courtside at the USC-Auburn men’s basketball game Sunday.
The “Inside the NBA” personality, who is an Auburn alum, didn’t hold back when he likened Afghanistan to supporting Alabama — and explained his “problem” with undefeated Florida State missing the CFP.
“I can’t root for Alabama under any circumstances,” Barkley said during an interview with ESPN on the broadcast Sunday, according to On3. “I love Coach Saban. He’s been great to me.
“But I can never root for Alabama. Under any circumstances. I told you if they played Afghanistan, I’d be pulling for Afghanistan.”
Barkley’s banter is all in fun, as he and Saban have exchanged playful comments all the way back to the Iron Bowl rivalry between Auburn and Alabama.
The NBA legend added that he can’t pick a winner for the CFP, which includes No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl and No. 2 Washington facing No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.
Barkley also explained why he believes FSU was “penalized” by the CFP committee after the Seminoles went undefeated despite losing their quarterback, Jordan Travis, the ACC Player of the Year, who suffered a season-ending broken leg against North Alabama in November.
“Here’s my problem with the whole thing as a player, they penalize because they lost their starters,” Barkley said. “I said, ‘Well, wait a minute, you showed total disrespect to the backups.’ That was my whole problem.
“Hey, you know how much I love Coach Saban and Alabama. I mean, I don’t like Alabama, I like Coach Saban. Winning with backups should have gave you brownie points, not penalize you.
“If we’re gonna play sports now where it only matters if you’re using your starters, I don’t want to be in that world. They won three games with a backup and another backup. To be honest with you, I’m really looking forward to the playoffs now that I went on my rant.
“I have zero idea who’s going to win those two games because we got four elite teams and I’m gonna be watching.”
The Seminoles became the first unbeaten Power 5 conference winner to miss out on the CFP.
Florida State will instead take on Georgia in the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30.
Head coach Mike Norvell said he was “disgusted and infuriated with the committee’s decision” in a statement earlier this month.
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