After 12 seasons as an NFL running back, Mark Ingram is returning to college football as a member of FOX Sports’ “Big Noon Kickoff” on-the-air team on Saturdays.

While a college player, Ingram won the 2009 Heisman Trophy while playing for Alabama’s undefeated BCS national-championship team. He was the Crimson Tide’s first Heisman winner as a member of coach Nick Saban’s first national-championship team at Alabama.

But what if, in his new role as a college-football analyst, Ingram faces a situation that deals with his former coach? Could he be critical of Saban? That’s a question that Ingram was asked during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” on Thursday.

“Listen, I’m going to call it how it is,” Ingram said. “I’m a straight shooter. I’m not going to fabricate it, and if I have to call out Coach, I’ll let him know. You know what I mean? I’ll let him know. That’s part of the new gig. I’m just going to call it how it is. I’m going to be honest. I’m going to truthful, and if that happens to happen, then that’s what has to happen.”

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Asked for his early pick for the top team in college football in 2023, Ingram bypassed his alma mater for Michigan.

“I think Georgia’s breaking in a new quarterback,” Ingram said. “I think Alabama’s breaking in a new quarterback. I think Ohio State’s breaking in a new quarterback. I think if you look at who is returning, Michigan is returning 14 starters. They’re returning their quarterback, who had a great year last year. They’re returning a double-headed monster in the backfield. And I think Go Blue is kind of the early favorite.

“I like returning. They have 14 returning starters from a top defense in the country and an offense who was big play and a quarterback who has big-game experience and had success in big games. They’re returning 14 starters, their quarterback, double-headed monster in the backfield, so I think they’re the early favorites.”

Ingram will appear on the same panel as Urban Meyer on the FOX Sports show.

“Every chance I get, I’m going to be at Urban,” Ingram said.

Meyer was the coach of Florida when the Gators spoiled Alabama’s undefeated season by downing the Crimson Tide 31-20 in the 2008 SEC Championship Game, with Ingram getting 21 yards and one touchdown on eight rushing attempts.

The next season, Ingram ran for 113 yards and three touchdowns and caught two passes for 76 yards in Alabama’s 32-13 victory over Meyer and Florida in the SEC Championship Game.

In 2010, Ingram ran for two more touchdowns as the Tide defeated Florida 31-6 in a regular-season game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.