SEC Fans Are Furious With Paul Finebaum

ESPN personality Paul Finebaum, long known for his staunch support of the SEC, is now taking a different stance.

After the Big Ten secured its second consecutive national championship, even Finebaum admits the SEC has been dethroned, at least for now.

"The SEC can no longer proclaim themselves to be the best conference in college football." 😳 @stephenasmith says "there's no question" that the Big Ten Conference has now "claimed" college football. pic.twitter.com/tK2N2CgJy4

— First Take (@FirstTake) January 21, 2025

The Big Ten is the new SEC pic.twitter.com/rYIuEA3Psq

— Scary Alvarez (@barryisthedon) January 21, 2025

For the second straight season, a Big Ten team hoisted the national championship trophy.

Last year, Michigan triumphed over Washington in the title game. This year, Ohio State solidified the conference’s dominance by defeating two SEC powerhouses – Tennessee and Texas – in the College Football Playoff before claiming victory over Notre Dame in Monday night’s championship.

The SEC is taking extreme measures to be like the Big Ten.

Pathetic. pic.twitter.com/eMBO6mpJtC

— James Pruch (@jamespruch) January 21, 2025

The question now is whether the SEC can still claim to be the premier conference in college football. Finebaum isn’t so sure anymore…

Appearing on Today’s edition of Get Up, Finebaum declared that the Big Ten is currently the undisputed leader in college football.

“The Big Ten, at the moment, owns college football,” Finebaum said. “There’s no way you can say it doesn’t. When you go back-to-back, that’s generational. In Ohio State’s case, they beat two SEC schools along the way.

“There’s a there’s an old saying that was emanated in 1828, when Andrew Jackson was elected President. A Senator from New York said, ‘To the victor, belongs the spoils,’ and that’s exactly where the Big Ten is this morning. It’s an uncomfortable feeling for the SEC, which has owned the sport. But it’s a reality this morning.”

"The Big Ten at the moment owns college football."

—@finebaum has high praise for the Big Ten 🤩 pic.twitter.com/a7LlhOwi73

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 21, 2025

Such comments from Finebaum, a frequent advocate for the SEC, are sure to spark debate.

Having said that, it’s difficult to dispute his argument. Ohio State’s impressive playoff run, combined with Michigan’s championship last season, has solidified the Big Ten’s claim to the throne.

It also doesn’t help that in this new day and age of NIL and the transfer portal, several star players have recently transferred up from the SEC to Big Ten programs.

Admit it. College Football was more fun when the SEC teams were cheating and the Big Ten teams were pointing fingers about it. Now that everyone is buying players, it's boring.

— Jay Ran Here 🏃🏼 (@JayRanHere) January 21, 2025

Shane Gillis calling Saban, Alabama Jones, and insinuating SEC teams have historically paid players, to his face, on national TV has to be one of the greatest roasts of all time. pic.twitter.com/Aey8yoepCH

— Nico Cuevas (@NicoSaysThings) December 21, 2024

.@DesmondHoward congratulates Ohio State on winning the CFP National Championship.

"Now, it's two years in a row that a Big Ten team has won the national championship and on the way, they knocked off two SEC schools." pic.twitter.com/egD0scr2zF

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 21, 2025

Programs like Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and Texas will undoubtedly work hard to return the SEC to its former glory next season.

However, the road ahead won’t be easy. The Big Ten remains stacked with powerhouse programs, including perennial contenders like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.

What are your thoughts on Finebaum’s comments?

Is the Big Ten indeed the new King of College Football???

I hope this forever kills all the talk about the being the SEC king of college football. The 4th place team in the BIG TEN just won the National Championship! In fact the BIG TEN has now gone Back to Back and is probably looking at a 3-peat 🤞🏽 pic.twitter.com/rnRQk9bH1m

— Trav (@AntiHero_2pt0) January 21, 2025