Paul Finebaum did not hide his frustration Saturday, and Oklahoma took the blast right along with the Big Ten.
During “SEC Nation” from the Auburn campus, the SEC Network analyst vented over Michigan’s 17-10 win against the Sooners and turned that result into a broader indictment of the conference he had spent the offseason praising.
“I am so boiling here for something that happened last Saturday in Ann Arbor,” Finebaum said. “Oklahoma, you let everyone down, and I’ll tell you why.
The Big Ten absolutely sucks at football this year. They are horrible.
“I spent the whole offseason embarrassing myself, saying, ‘The Big Ten’s the best conference,’ and they go out there and lay an egg. If Oklahoma had done what they should have done, we would be dancing on the Big Ten’s grave.
You screwed up, Oklahoma! I’m mad!”
By then, Tim Tebow had his head on the table.
“I don’t even know how to respond,” Tebow said.
Finebaum wasn’t done. He added one more jab aimed at Auburn’s loss in Norman last year.
“One more thing,” Finebaum interrupted. “Give Auburn that game back that they won last year in Norman, because they stole the game from Auburn!”
The rant landed in the middle of a season that has already produced a few rough Big Ten moments. The conference has won the last three national championships, but this fall has not exactly been clean.
UMass beat Rutgers in Week 1. Oregon survived a scare against Boise State before falling 39-31 to Oklahoma State.
Wisconsin was thumped by Notre Dame 41-13. Michigan escaped Western Michigan in controversial fashion.
Ohio State then blew a 20-point fourth-quarter lead in a 24-23 loss to Texas last week, and Mississippi State rolled past Minnesota 38-13.
Finebaum’s latest blast also ran directly against the narrative Urban Meyer pushed earlier this month, when he called the Big Ten the sport’s top conference.
“For close to 20 years, we all know and I was part of it, (the SEC) dominated the country and the Big Ten Conference,” Meyer said during Fox’s “Big Noon Kickoff.” “They won 13 of 17 national championships.
But ...
“That all changed three years ago when the Wolverines, then the Buckeyes, then the Hoosiers won the title. However, it’s not just the top of the league. Yes, they are 4-0 in College Football Playoff games Big Ten vs. the SEC, but they’ve also won 4 of 5 in non-College Football Playoff bowls.
“As of now, it’s the best conference.”
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