Paul Finebaum

[Flat Water]

Paul Finebaum is upset that Matt Rhule said that the Big Ten is the NFL of college football and that the Big Ten should get four teams in the CFP.

Rhule didn't say that Nebraska should be in the CFP, or even that Nebraska will be among the top 4 teams in the Big Ten. Rather, he just said four teams in the Big Ten will be deserving of a place in the CFP. Certainly, last year at least four teams that are currently in the Big Ten (Michigan, OSU, Washington and Oregon) would likely have made a 12 team playoff, and I think in most years that will be the case. So while I wouldn't agree that there should be a hard and fast rule that four Big Ten teams get in the CFP, in most years Rhule will be right that at least four Big Ten teams will be deserving of a spot. So basically, Rhule is correct.

But rather than arguing the merits, Finebaum makes ad hominem attacks against Rhule and Nebraska more generally. What an @ss.

ESPN Analyst Criticizes Matt Rhule's Big Ten College Football Playoff Take

Matt Rhule has made plenty of comments during the off-season. Whether it was his discussion of the Colorado-Nebraska matchup, his appearances on several podcas

www.si.com

 

[The_Real_PJ]

Finebaum is just trying to create controversy to improve ESPN ratings. This is a NOTHING BURGER! Rhule said nothing wrong - he even dressed nice for once.
GBR!

 

[Flat Water]

Finebaum is just trying to create controversy to improve ESPN ratings. This is a NOTHING BURGER! Rhule said nothing wrong - he even dressed nice for once.
GBR!

And he had a much better opening statement than the UCLA coach. I actually kind of like UCLA, but their coach really needs to work on his public speaking.

 

[Shepherd]

Agree with your position @Flat Water and there’s only one way to respond: wins, not words.

 

[Nebugeater]

Should we expect anything different from Finebaum? NOPE

 

[TFrazier]

Maybe Nebraska should cancel the 2024 season because of Paul Finebaum.

 

[Skers4life]

Finebaum has been an SEC homer since God was a kid. Of course he is going to say that, he just wants clicks. I NEVER pay attention to him, ever.

 

[Alaskajohn]

ESPN still exists? Who knew,..?

 

[wcbsas]

Finebaum has been an SEC homer since God was a kid. Of course he is going to say that, he just wants clicks. I NEVER pay attention to him, ever.

I believe he’s been more virulent this season, maybe at the urging of ESecPN, to create dialogue about the SEC. His “attack” of James Franklin appears to have crossed a line IMO.

 

[Hooked on Huskers]

Elephant ears said .... "We saw what you did in the NFL - you were a complete disaster in Carolina."

Not mention Nick Saban in HC Miami Dolphins. Final year, Fins record, 6W-10L

 

[berryhusker]

I'm not surprised an E(Sec)PN homer like Finebaum took offense.

 

[Captkenny]

I think it’s fine to challenge a statement about which league is the “best” league or how many teams any given league might have in the playoff conversation. But man, Finebaum went full “Karen” on this. Seems like this is very, very personal. Instead of making an intelligent argument for why Rhule’s statement isn’t true, he attacks Rhule’s “authorization” or “permission” to opine on the subject and attack his NFL record.

Who knew that Finebaum was elected arbiter of who is allowed to express their opinion regarding college football playoffs or hierarchy?

I’d be embarrassed if I was ESPN or Finebaum. But I came from the pre-troll generation where people cared about the words that come out of their mouths in public.

 

[JHudson]

Unhinged and irrational. Desmond Howard must be giving him lessons.

 

[36Blast]

And he had a much better opening statement than the UCLA coach. I actually kind of like UCLA, but their coach really needs to work on his public speaking.

That wasnt even an indictment on his public speaking. It was an indictment of not being prepared, which is a bad bad look for a head coach.

 

[NUinID]

July is a slow sports month. ESPN is looking for clicks. So at the staff meeting yesterday they are brainstorming. They take something from a coach answering a question from a podium that happened 2 days ago and say lets give this to Finebaum. He can come up with something to generate clicks.