Charles Barkley is an Auburn fan through and through as the former Auburn basketball player makes sure to let everyone know that. However, when at the CBS table, he has to give him unbiased opinions about college basketball, except when it comes to Alabama football.
Before the second day of the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the CBS crew was sitting around their table talking about the craziness of the first day and what could come from day two. Something Barkely brought up was the SEC's record on the first day of games, which was 4-3 with losses from Georgia, Missouri, and Texas, who lost in their First Four game against Xavier.
The SEC had an unprecedented and historic 14 teams selected to the NCAA Tournament including Auburn as the No. 1 overall seed, but their start to tournament play has not been as dominant as some would have thought. Barkley, as a former SEC player, said he hopes the SEC picks up their play on day two of the first round.
His colleagues around him gave him a confused look, wondering why he would want others in the SEC to succeed. Barkley had a great response that will make Auburn fans smile and Alabama fans frown.
"I root for everybody in the SEC except for Alabama in football," Barkley said.
Charles Barkley: "I thought the SEC had a rough day yesterday... I root for everybody in the SEC except for Alabama in football... Georgia, Florida, Tennessee; I root for the SEC, but I hate Alabama in football. That's the only thing." #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/dYye7vC0RX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 21, 2025
The hate for Alabama football runs deep at Auburn, and even BArkely is happy to voice that. However, it does seem a bit strange that he wouldn't loop all of Alabama's teams in that statement. I can't imagine that Barkley wants to see Alabama succeed in the NCAA Tournament as a former Tiger.
Maybe at this point, as a media analyst, Barkley is turning a new leaf and simply just going for the SEC as a whole now. However, it seems there are some lines he just won't cross, and that is rooting for Alabama football, that is something he just can't ever do.