ESPN’s Paul Finebaum Criticizes Big Ten Fans Over Football Legacy

Paul Finebaum, a prominent SEC football analyst, has reignited controversy with his outspoken support for the SEC, particularly the Texas Longhorns, to win the upcoming national championship, dismissing the Big Ten's recent successes. During a Netflix Sports podcast, Finebaum expressed frustration with Big Ten fans, claiming the conference "has literally done nothing" despite their two recent national titles and accused Big Ten fans of acting as if they "invented football," overlooking that Rutgers, a Big Ten school, played in the first college football game. These remarks sparked backlash on social media from Big Ten supporters who pointed out the conference's historical significance and 32 total national titles, surpassing the SEC's 28. Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg highlighted Penn State as the Big Ten team under the most pressure this season, with a championship-or-bust mentality fueled by a strong returning roster. Finebaum's comments have been criticized as biased and dismissive of the Big Ten's rich football heritage, further polarizing college football fandom ahead of the 2025 season.