Alabama or Texas in CFP? Mark Ingram, Matt Leinart debate

While Paul Finebaum was stumping for Alabama to make the College Football Playoff over Florida State on “SEC Nation” on Saturday, there was a different debate brewing on the “Big Noon Kickoff.”

Should the No. 8 Crimson Tide, assuming it wins out, get in over No. 7 Texas, a team that defeated Nick Saban’s club in Tuscaloosa earlier this year.

“Let’s talk about these resumes,” said Matt Leinart, who added Alabama is playing its best football. “Both teams have the same record against Top 25 opponents. They’d both be 3-1. Both would have top-10 wins. Obviously, Texas has struggled with injuries. Quinn Ewers was out and still found ways to win. They just dropped a 50-burger last night (on Texas Tech) to make a statement. The most important thing, and I don’t need to say anything else, what happened in Tuscaloosa earlier this year? They went on the road. They dominated your Crimson Tide. Won by double digits. It doesn’t matter if it is the same team or not. Let’s not act like Texas at 12-1 is a slouch … it’s not even a debate.”

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Mark Ingram, meanwhile, believes the Crimson Tide, his former team, is in if it wins out.

“Listen Roll Tide Nation, I got love, we the real deal Holyfield,” he declared. “We beat Auburn in the Iron Bowl. We go on the road and beat Georgia, the best team in college football, the defending back-to-back national champion, and we are in. The SEC champion has never been left out. We have a better strength of schedule than Texas, points per game differential than Texas, and scoring offense than Texas. It don’t matter what they did in Week 2, cause we’re a different football team right now.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.