Paul Finebaum had plenty to say about Oklahoma’s loss to Michigan, and his criticism stretched far beyond the Sooners.
Speaking on Saturday’s edition of SEC Nation, the ESPN voice turned his frustration toward the Big Ten, calling the league “horrible” this season while saying Oklahoma’s defeat made the result even harder to stomach. Finebaum said, “I am so boiling here for something that happened last Saturday in Ann Arbor,” before adding, “Oklahoma, you let everyone down, and I’ll tell you why.
The Big Ten absolutely sucks at football this year. They are horrible.”
Finebaum also said he regretted spending part of the offseason praising the Big Ten. In his view, if Oklahoma had handled business against Michigan, the reaction would have been much different.
“I spent the whole offseason embarrassing myself, saying, ‘The Big Ten’s the best conference,’ and they go out there and lay an egg,” Finebaum said. “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!”
The comments came after Michigan’s narrow Week 1 win over Western Michigan had led many to assume the Wolverines were not very strong. Finebaum’s latest rant suggested he now sees Michigan’s win over Oklahoma as a better reflection of who the Wolverines are, even if his bigger takeaway was a shot at the conference itself.
For now, the SEC vs. Big Ten debate pauses again, with the conference fight for supremacy expected to fade from view until the College Football Playoff.
In Other News...
Michigan Finally Found Some Offense But A Bigger Worry Is Growing
Michigans 52-17 win over UTEP brought a much cleaner afternoon on offense, with Bryce Underwood looking more comfortable as a passer and the Wolverines finally stringing together the kind of production they had been searching for. True freshman Tommy Carr also got his first career touchdown pass, another small but notable development in a game that gave Michigan a chance to reset some of its offensive rhythm.
The bigger concern is what came out of the win, because the injury list is starting to grow in places Michigan can ill afford to thin out. Right tackle Andrew Sprague, running back Jordan Marshall and cornerback Zeke Berry all missed or were limited in the game, leaving the Wolverines to balance a much-needed offensive breakthrough against some troubling uncertainty as the schedule moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's Big Win Couldn't Hide One Worry Before Iowa
Michigan shook off an uneven start and rolled past UTEP 52-17, turning an early deficit into a runaway win with 38 straight points. Bryce Underwood threw two touchdown passes and Savion Hiter added two rushing scores as the Wolverines settled in on offense, but the victory was built only after they recovered from self-inflicted mistakes that handed UTEP an opening.
Jordan Marshalls leg injury was the part of the afternoon Michigan could not simply brush aside. The starting running back went out during the game, leaving the Wolverines with a question mark in the backfield heading into Iowa, while coach Kyle Whittingham also pointed to the teams fumble issues as another concern to clean up before the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Has A Real Chance To Climb In This Poll Shakeup
A busy stretch around the AP Top 25 has given the rankings a very different look, with USCs 42-35 win over Rutgers adding another layer to the shuffle. The Trojans are now up to four wins, and with upsets continuing to ripple through the country, the poll is starting to sort contenders from teams that are simply trying to stay afloat.
For Michigan fans keeping an eye on the broader playoff picture, the bigger movement may come from how the conference races keep unfolding in the weeks ahead. USC hosting Oregon is one of the next big tests, while losses by LSU and Texas A&M have already changed the conversation around the rankings and postseason positioning, leaving plenty still unresolved as voters get ready to make their next pass. [Read more 🡒]