For a very long time now, the SEC has been considered the best conference in all of college football.
Between the players, coaches, programs, fans, stadiums and overall history – the SEC has long been on a level of its own.
Until now … Or at least according to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum.
Finebaum recently declared that the Big Ten conference is now on the same exact level as the SEC…
Michigan vs Everybody.
Everybody lost.
2023 National Champions. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/zCoIhvST68
— ☨ Wolverine Devotee 🌹 30-24, 45-23, 42-27 〽️ (@UMichWD) January 18, 2024
Everyone knows the SEC and Big Ten were, for the most part, a notch above every other conference in the country.
But now with Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA joining the Big Ten, Finebaum thinks that puts them right on the same level with the SEC.
(The Big Ten does suffer a blow by losing Jim Harbaugh though…)
Harbaugh put Michigan football back on the map. He will forever be one of the greatest coaches in our lustrous history. He came in and did exactly what he sat out to do. Now he has his own journey to win a SB. Thank you for everything you have done for Michigan @CoachJim4UM https://t.co/yy2DhU7WRo
— The 12x National Champion- The Don #GoBlue (@themancalleddon) January 25, 2024
Regardless, this is high praise coming from Finebaum who has long been accused of having an extreme bias towards the SEC … But he may be coming to his senses.
The SEC’s reign of supremacy, marked by a remarkable string of national titles from 2006 to 2012, has seldom been under serious threat until now.
The Big Ten, often seen as a formidable “super-conference” in its own right, has stepped up its game, recently clinching the national title with Harbaugh’s Wolverines.
Paul Finebaum admitted he may have been too harsh on Jim Harbaugh, but that hasn't stopped Ric Flair from going after the longtime SEC Network host yet again
READ MORE: https://t.co/wJWUorWH30https://t.co/wJWUorWH30
— Brotips (@brotips) January 23, 2024
“Don’t quote me on this because I’m doing this live from the SEC Network headquarters, but the Big Ten has become a really good league. And I’m impressed,” Finebaum said on The Tim May Show.
“The easiest thing for a good ol’ southern boy like me or you is to make fun of the Big Ten,” he said. “The fact that the goofy divisional thing is over with and we don’t have to suffer through another Michigan/Ohio State vs. Iowa game is great.”
“I think the Big Ten right now with its TV packages and the 4 (programs) they’re taking in…they’re in the same category as the SEC right now,” he surprisingly said.
Who cares what he has to say? Finebaum and ESPN are just SEC mouthpieces whose opinions can never be taken seriously.
Paul Finebaum Names College Football's Next Superstar Head Coachhttps://t.co/y9aCe4ts1o— TrojanGiftHorse (@TrojanGHorse) January 20, 2024
While the SEC is not resting on its laurels, securing a new media deal and adding high-profile members Texas and Oklahoma to its roster, the landscape of college football is undoubtedly evolving.
As the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams, anticipation is growing for both the Big Ten and SEC to assert their dominance in the postseason, setting the stage for many expected head-to-head battles.
Hearing Michigan is looking at Josh Heupel 🤷♂️
— Brad Lambdin (@umpire12bcl) January 25, 2024
What are your thoughts?
Is the Big Ten indeed on the same exact level as the SEC?
Are you surprised that Finebaum, of all people, would declare such a thing?
Looking at the big picture, who do you think will win the national championship next season???