SEC Tailgate Talk: Jalen Hurts – Bammer or Sooner?
The debate over Jalen Hurts’ college legacy ignited once again after the Philadelphia Eagles star took home the Super Bowl LIX MVP award. But the real question wasn’t about his performance on the field—it was about which school gets to claim him: Alabama or Oklahoma?
Social Media Battle: Crimson Tide vs. Sooners
The moment Hurts hoisted the Lombardi Trophy, both Alabama and Oklahoma took to social media, each trying to cement their claim.
Alabama wasted no time, retweeting the NFL’s official post of a smiling Hurts and a graphic celebrating his MVP achievement. Their social media team went a step further, posting a video of Hurts sprinting across the field to embrace Patrick Mahomes, captioning it simply: “Super Bowl MVP!”
Oklahoma, however, stepped up their game. They flooded their timeline with throwback images of Hurts in a Sooners uniform, including a retweet of Yahoo Sports’ post declaring: “A BOOMER OF A PERFORMANCE FROM JALEN HURTS 😤”. Perhaps the most iconic post came from the Philadelphia Eagles’ account, showing Hurts puffing a victory cigar in the hallway with the caption: “Kept the main thing, the main thing.” Oklahoma made sure that moment wasn’t lost on their followers.
The social media battle was fun, but let’s be real—Twitter fights fade fast. The true debate lives on: when someone asks, “Where did Jalen Hurts go to school?” what’s your first instinct? Let’s break it down.
The Case for Alabama: A Crimson Tide Legacy
If you think of Jalen Hurts, you think Alabama football. That’s just reality.
Hurts made history as a true freshman starter in 2016, the first in over 32 years at Alabama. He didn’t just manage the game—he dominated, breaking the school record for total touchdowns in a season (36) while leading the Tide to the National Championship Game. They were one defensive stop away from winning it all.
Then came the 2017 season—the turning point in Hurts’ Alabama career. After leading the Tide to an 11-1 regular season, he started the National Championship Game against Georgia. But after a sluggish first half, Nick Saban made the controversial decision to bench him in favor of Tua Tagovailoa. The rest is history—Tua’s famous 2nd-and-26 touchdown pass sealed the title, and just like that, Hurts was no longer the guy.
Instead of transferring immediately, Hurts stayed and waited for his moment. That moment arrived in the 2018 SEC Championship Game, when Tagovailoa went down with an injury. Hurts stepped in, led a dramatic comeback, and clinched another SEC title for Alabama. It was redemption personified.
Hurts graduated with a degree in Communications before transferring to Oklahoma for his senior season.
The Case for Oklahoma: The Final Touch
When Jalen Hurts arrived in Norman, he wasted no time proving he was more than just a game manager. In his first start for the Sooners, he shattered the single-game total yardage record (508 yards), surpassing Baker Mayfield’s previous mark by 112 yards.
Under Lincoln Riley’s Air Raid offense, Hurts silenced every doubt about his passing ability. He led Oklahoma to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff berth, finishing second in Heisman voting behind Joe Burrow. More importantly, his time in Norman helped shape his NFL career—if Alabama proved he was a winner, Oklahoma proved he could sling it with the best of them. That’s why the Eagles took him 53rd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
The Verdict: Where Does Jalen Hurts Truly Belong?
Oklahoma played a role in Hurts’ development—no question. They embraced him on social media, gave him a chance to showcase his arm talent, and helped solidify his draft stock. But when we talk about legacy, it’s a different conversation.
Jalen Hurts is Alabama football royalty. His story isn’t just about success—it’s about hope, heartbreak, and redemption. His freshman dominance, his championship benching, and his legendary SEC title game comeback—it’s all part of the fabric of Alabama football history.
So when someone asks where Jalen Hurts played, there’s only one real answer: Roll Tide.
