Latest news with #PaulFinebaum
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
'I really like what I see': Paul Finebaum on the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners
'I really like what I see': Paul Finebaum on the 2025 Oklahoma Sooners In the transfer portal era of college football, programs now have the capability to change so much for their team over just one offseason. A team that excelled can get gutted by players transferring elsewhere, while a team that struggled can make upgrades at the necessary positions to improve the following year. That's what fans of the Oklahoma Sooners are hoping happens for their team in 2025. After a poor season in 2024, OU is in serious need of a bounce-back this year. They made plenty of portal additions this winter and spring to try and avoid another subpar season. Oklahoma's biggest portal acquisition came in the form of a QB upgrade. Washington State's John Mateer replaces former starting quarterback Jackson Arnold, who now plays at Auburn. With the Sooners needing a total revamp on offense after last season's dumpster fire, many believe that Mateer is the key to getting OU back to their high standard on that side of the ball. That list includes Paul Finebaum, who covers college football and the SEC for ESPN and the SEC Network. He hosts "The Paul Finebaum Show," where he expressed his high expectations for Mateer and Oklahoma. "I think John Mateer is going to fit in very well," Finebaum said. "This is based on people who have seen him perform out there and those who know the Sooners' depth chart. I really like what I see. It's a big year. A couple of tricky games. The second half of the schedule, to me, is littered with tough road games." Mateer, along with new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, who also comes from Washington State, will be tasked with getting OU back on track offensively. However, Oklahoma's early schedule includes two big home games against Michigan and Auburn. If the Sooners can topple the Wolverines and the Tigers, they should be 5-0 when they head to the Cotton Bowl to face Texas. After the Red River Rivalry, Oklahoma's final six games are all against brutally tough competition. South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and LSU is about as tough of a half-season stretch as you can find in college football. It certainly won't be easy against the nation's hardest schedule, but with a difference-maker in place again at the quarterback position, the Sooners have high hopes for the 2025 season. Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Calls Major College Football Coach a 'Fraud'
Paul Finebaum Calls Major College Football Coach a 'Fraud' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In the world of sports, some teams consistently rise to the top and maintain their success for long periods, while others experience fluctuations in performance. Advertisement The teams that remain at the pinnacle are often referred to as the "blue bloods" of their sport. Examples of such teams in college football include the Alabama Crimson Tide, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Oklahoma Sooners, USC Trojans and Ohio State Buckeyes, among others. While many of these programs continue to perform well today, one team has encountered difficulties: USC. This offseason, the Trojans were ranked as the second-best program in the history of college football. However, they have struggled in recent years. They have achieved only five 10-win seasons since 2009. In contrast, Alabama has achieved 15 10-win seasons during that same timeframe, while Notre Dame has had nine, Oklahoma has had 11 and Ohio State has had 14. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," a caller asked the SEC Network analyst whether USC would ever regain its prominence. Finebaum expressed optimism, stating that he believes they can return to success, but he feels that head coach Lincoln Riley may be a factor holding them back. USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley talks on his Cashore-Imagn Images "I do believe USC is capable because there is so much to offer there," Finebaum said. "They just happen to have a fraud as their head coach." Advertisement Finebaum has been quite critical of Lincoln Riley's tenure at USC, noting that high expectations have not been met with corresponding results. Riley previously found considerable success at Oklahoma, compiling a 55-10 record over his first five seasons in Norman. This success led to four Big 12 championships and three consecutive appearances in the College Football Playoff. When he took over at USC, the program had been struggling, and Riley was perceived as a potential savior. The Trojans had not won 10 games since 2017 and were coming off a disappointing 4-8 season in 2021. In his first year, Riley met expectations by leading USC to an 11-3 record and reaching the Pac-12 Championship Game, though it lost 47-24 to Utah. He also helped quarterback Caleb Williams win the Heisman Trophy. However, the following seasons did not go as well. USC began the 2023 season with high hopes, as Williams returned as quarterback and the team held a preseason ranking of No. 6. Ultimately, the Trojans ended the season with an 8-5 record, losing five of their last seven games. The 2024 season started positively with a win over LSU, but the team finished with a disappointing 7-6 record. Advertisement This led Finebaum to comment that it's difficult to imagine a coach performing worse than Riley has at USC. Despite these challenges, there may be a turning point for Riley and USC after two disappointing seasons. The Trojans boast the No. 1 recruiting class for 2026, with 27 commitments so far, more than any other team. USC is set to open the upcoming season against Missouri State on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Related: Paul Finebaum Names Major College Football Coach That's Been a 'Bust' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Didn't Hesitate When Naming His CFP National Championship Favorite
Paul Finebaum Didn't Hesitate When Naming His CFP National Championship Favorite originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the college football offseason continues and games are less than two months away, high expectations are being thrown around for some of the top programs. Advertisement One of those teams is the Texas Longhorns, who came up just short of a national championship last season, falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl semifinal. However, with quarterback Arch Manning set to take over, they have a real shot in 2025. On Wednesday's episode of ESPN's "Get Up," analyst Paul Finebaum was asked if the Longhorns are his favorites to win the national championship. "Absolutely,' Finebaum said. 'They have Arch Manning, in case you have not gotten that email from the front office, and he is expected to be better than Quinn Ewers... I think Arch Manning, had he come in during the Cotton Bowl, may have had a better shot, may have even beaten Ohio State, but he is going to be the leader of this team. They reloaded in the portal, to the tune of many millions and millions of dollars." Throughout the offseason, Texas was a big player in the transfer portal, recruiting a total of 11 commitments for a group that ranks No. 17 in the nation and No. 7 in the SEC. Advertisement They also have several key starters coming back, including cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and EDGE Colin Simmons, who were all placed in College Football Network's list of top 100 returning players. Of course, to compete for a national championship, a Week 1 win would be huge, and they face a tough opponent in Ohio State, where ESPN BET already has the Longhorns as three-point underdogs. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images If Finebaum is correct, though, and Manning can lead Texas to a national championship win, it would be their fifth in program history and the first since 2005 when they defeated the USC Trojans 41-38 in the Rose Bowl. Advertisement Related: North Carolina Reacts to Retirement of Former Patriots Super Bowl Champion This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Drops Huge Endorsement on Texas Phenom Arch Manning
Paul Finebaum Drops Huge Endorsement on Texas Phenom Arch Manning originally appeared on Athlon Sports. College football analyst Paul Finebaum has ignited a firestorm of excitement among Texas Longhorns fans with a bold prediction about quarterback Arch Manning. Advertisement In a recent statement highlighted by Inside Texas on X, Finebaum declared, 'I think he's going to be the best quarterback at Texas since Colt McCoy.' The endorsement, paired with an image of Manning in a burnt orange shirt gripping a football, has sent ripples through the college football community as the young star continues to rise. Manning, a freshman sensation and scion of the legendary Manning family, has already shown flashes of brilliance. With 939 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, and a stellar 87.5 QBR, his stats speak volumes. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.© Brett Davis-Imagn Images His breakout performance against the UTSA Roadrunners—where he completed 9 of 12 passes, threw four touchdowns, and added a 67-yard rushing score—proved he's ready for the spotlight. Advertisement Finebaum's comparison to Colt McCoy, a Texas icon who led the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009 and ranks second all-time in FBS quarterback wins, sets a lofty benchmark for the young signal-caller. However, the statement has sparked debate. Some fans on X argue that Finebaum overlooks Quinn Ewers, who guided Texas to a 33-10 record over the last three seasons, including a 2023 Big 12 title and back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinals. Despite the skepticism, Manning's raw talent and pedigree suggest he could indeed redefine Texas football. As the Longhorns face tougher challenges ahead, all eyes will be on Manning to prove Finebaum right. Related: Former Longhorns Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth Vying for Win in Same Tournament This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Even Paul Finebaum Thinks Clemson Can Win It All—Yes, Really
No, this isn't an April Fool's joke, and no, you didn't accidentally click on The Onion. Paul Finebaum—the longtime SEC megaphone and frequent Clemson skeptic—just said something nice about the Tigers. Not just nice. Complimentary. Borderline glowing. Advertisement 'I think Clemson is in the national championship race,' Finebaum said this week on ESPN's McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. For most programs, that wouldn't exactly move the needle. But for Clemson? Coming from Finebaum? That's headline material. This is the same Paul Finebaum who once questioned whether Dabo Swinney had staying power, mocked Clemson's early NIL philosophy, and all but rolled his eyes at talk of the Tigers as a modern dynasty. So to hear Finebaum include Clemson in his personal shortlist of 2025 title contenders? That's about as close to a public apology as you're going to get. Paul Finebaum© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports Yes, Clemson has been trending upward since the back half of last season. Yes, the Tigers are coming off another College Football Playoff appearance. Yes, Cade Klubnik has developed into a legitimate Heisman contender, and the defense is absolutely loaded with elite talent like T.J. Parker and Peter Woods anchoring the front. Advertisement But none of that guarantees Paul Finebaum's endorsement. He's long preferred to keep the national spotlight glued to the SEC—Alabama, Georgia, LSU—while keeping Clemson in the 'let's see if they're for real' category. So this moment? It means something. Finebaum acknowledging Clemson as a real threat in 2025 is the football version of a solar eclipse: rare, slightly disorienting, and you better soak it in while it lasts. To be fair, Finebaum isn't wrong. This year's Clemson team is loaded with top-tier talent across the board—possibly more than any Tigers squad since 2018. Klubnik is no longer a young quarterback with potential—he's now a seasoned leader, entering his third year as a starter with one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the country. On the other side of the ball, Clemson boasts arguably the best defensive front in America, headlined by future first-rounders Peter Woods and T.J. Parker. Advertisement Throw in Avieon Terrell and Antonio Williams—possibly the top cornerback and receiver in the ACC—and it's no surprise Clemson sits in the top five of nearly every post-spring Top 25. You know you're doing something right when even your usual critics are buying in. And in the world of college football punditry, there's no tougher sell than Paul Finebaum. The fact that even he is calling Clemson a contender? That's not just noise. That's validation. So if you needed a sign that Dabo Swinney's Tigers are back in the big-time national title conversation, forget the stats, the rankings, or the spring buzz. Just listen to Paul Finebaum. He thinks Clemson is good. Not just good—good good. Related: Clemson Cracks Top 10 in NIL-Era College Football Job Rankings by Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman
