“Pretty Sure Y’all Benched Him”– University Of Alabama Catches Flak For Claiming Jalen Hurts As Their “Super Bowl MVP”

Oh how the tables have turned.

If there’s one thing the Crimson Tide is known for, it’s bringing home championships. Alabama is one of the winningest teams in all of college football, and they’ve got 18 national championships to back that up. One third of those titles came during the Nick Saban era, as the coach led Alabama to championships in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020.

Remember the Crimson Tide’s championship in the 2017-2018 season? That’s the one where quarterback Jalen Hurts was replaced at halftime in favor of true freshman Tua Tagovailoa. It was a controversial decision at the time, but it ended up working out in Bama’s favor. They came back to beat Georgia in overtime 26 to 23, and Tua was the starter from that point forward.

Though Hurts played his first three seasons at Alabama, he transferred to Oklahoma after he was benched during the national championship. He played his senior season in 2019 with the Sooners before he was drafted into the NFL by the Philadelphia Eagles, and as you probably know, he just helped the franchise that drafted him make it to – and win – Super Bowl LIX.

Hurts was even named the Super Bowl MVP, and his former school shared in the joyous occasion with this post:

SUPER BOWL MVP!#SBLIX  #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/cXaq11f3Pz

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) February 10, 2025

Oh, so now Alabama wants Jalen Hurts?

Considering they kind of encouraged him to transfer out, that post above hasn’t gone over well for the Crimson Tide. Sure, Hurts spent three seasons there… but the social media world is questioning whether or not Alabama has the right to claim him as their Super Bowl MVP.

Many are saying that Alabama is just trying to claim another championship, while others are arguing that you can’t celebrate a former player that you famously benched in one of the biggest games of his career. It’s somewhat of a tricky situation considering Hurts did play three seasons with the Crimson Tide.

Though if you asked the internet, they’d tell you he’s an Oklahoma Sooner through and through, and that Alabama lost the right to celebrate in Hurts’ success when they pushed him out in favor of Tua Tagovailoa:

Pretty sure yall benched him

— fnessor (@fnessor) February 11, 2025

Well this is awkward https://t.co/3TO9B5unfd

— Chace (@drewski229) February 11, 2025

Delete this. He’s a Sooner. You benched him for Tua Turntheballova so live with that.

— jay (@justajerseybabe) February 10, 2025

Lol he doesn’t claim bama, he’s a Sooner.

— Quint (@Quint_Vols) February 10, 2025

So funny. This is the guy your coach benched for Tua. Yall shit on him but now want to claim him? That’s like Ohio state claiming Joe Burrow.

Y’all didn’t deserve him. lol

— Dillon (@dgtechllc) February 10, 2025

The “SOONER” you delete this, the better. Your prized QB resides in south beach.

— Henry Puppers (@HenryPuppers) February 10, 2025