When the whistle blows on a college football game, it’s not just the die-hard fans who are glued to their screens. But, NBA legends like Charles Barkley often find themselves deeply invested in these games too. However, the recent college football game at the Jordan-Hare Stadium made him the target of a wager he didn’t want to be involved in. Let us see what it was.

In a recent appearance, the Philadelphia 76ers legend revealed the bet that he had to play along as his team the Auburn Tigers lost to the California Golden Bears (21-14) on Sunday. “I’m sitting there watching the game and I’m pissed. Jason Kidd is calling me, he says, let’s make a bet. So I got to wear Cal Jersey,” Barkley said, via Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B. But why did Jason Kidd make such a bet?

The reason is that the former teammate of Chuck in the Phoenix Suns went to the University of California, where he played for the California Bears. However, he wasn’t the only one who was calling Barkley to brag about California’s win. There was Barkley’s friend Max Homa from the realm of golf. Surprisingly, he also played college golf at the University of California under a scholarship. Hilariously, Barkley didn’t even know he had so many friends who were supporters of Cal. “I cannot believe how many friends I have with the Cal,” said Barkley.

Barkley is a renowned Auburn alumnus and has long held a deep connection to the university’s athletic programs. His passion for the Tigers is evident in his frequent commentary and unwavering support. He played for three years with the Auburn Tigers basketball team. The former power forward even led the Tigers to their first NCAA tournament. However, Chuck had high hopes with Auburn this time.

When things went south, Barkley ultimately followed with the bet and went to California wearing the California jersey. Even though he is a die-hard fan of the Auburn Tigers, did you know he once kind of made a depressing comment on the team?

Charles Barkley once referred to the Auburn Tigers as the “Stepchild” of Alabama

NBA legend Charles Barkley, back in February, expressed a pessimistic outlook on the future of Auburn. In a postgame interview, Barkley said, “I know I’m going to get in trouble for saying it, we’re like the stepchild. We’re never going to be Alabama.“

When Barkley made this comment, he was attending the Auburn Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide game which the Tigers dominated by a huge win (19-4). Despite this win, the Hall of Famer thinks that between the two teams, Alabama shines brighter than the Tigers in the “Iron Bowl”.

This was somewhat true because, in a total of 88 meetings, Alabama had clinched 55 games, leaving the Tigers with only 33 wins. This had raged the Auburn fans. However, the legend’s criticisms highlighted the urgent need for improvement and could potentially spark a renewed sense of urgency to revitalize the Auburn football program.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.