Despite more than 28 million people having watched Nick Saban and Alabama lift the College Football Playoff national championship trophy in January, UCF's undefeated season has caused some debate on whether the Knights' claim is legitimate.
Thankfully, Auburn is here to provide some insight.
The Tigers were the only team to play both the Crimson Tide and Knights last season, meaning they have one of the more reliable perspectives on which team was better and, more importantly, deserving of the national title. Former Auburn players at the NFL Scouting Combine made it clear: Alabama is the true national champion.
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"Who played Georgia in the national championship game? There's one team," running back Kerryon Johnson told AL.com. "They have the trophy. They went through the playoffs. They played Georgia. They won. It's as simple as that. Shoot any undefeated team could pop up and say, 'We're national champions.' I mean, they didn't play for it, that's the bottom line."
Other Auburn players shared Johnson's opinion. Defensive back Stephen Roberts praised UCF but said Alabama was the team that ultimately got the ring. Tackle Braden Smith gave it to the Iron Bowl rivals as well, saying they played for it and won it "officially."
Of course it makes sense that Auburn, having beaten Alabama, would consider the Tide national champions. But not everyone was quite as straightforward with their response. Running back Kamryn Pettway went so far as to say the Knights should have at least had a chance at the Playoff, something Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough agreed with.
"I'm proud of (UCF) — they had a perfect season and they were the only team to go undefeated, so I will let them celebrate," Scarbrough told AL.com. "Congrats to them on a perfect season that no one had this year. I think they should have gotten an opportunity in the Playoff because they didn't lose a game. But it is what it is, you know, they had no control over it. ... I'm very confident in my team. So I say Alabama would have won."
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UCF All-American linebacker Shaquem Griffin said the Knights and Tide's respective records speak for themselves, and that 13-0 rolls off the tongue a lot better than 13-1. And in the end, it's not that Alabama players think UCF's claim is too outlandish; they just feel they have something better.
"I'm happy for them. They can claim it," Tide defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick said. "I have the rings and the trophies. So, it's whatever."