Paul Finebaum Fires Back at ESPN Analyst Over SEC Narrative

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Aug 6, 2025 11:45 AM ET

ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum stirred the pot this morning following statements from Heather Dinich. The ESPN senior college football reporter suggested Clemson could make a statement by going 2‑0 against the SEC this year, specifically picking the ACC powerhouse over LSU in their Week 1 matchup.

Finebaum wasn’t having it.

On ESPN's "Get Up," Dinich said, “I’m going with the home team (Clemson)... The biggest headline here is that Clemson has a chance to go 2‑0 against the SEC.”

Finebaum countered sharply, “Heather, I don’t mean to nag at you at 8:30 in the morning already. But there you go completely disregarding last season. You’re focused in on the SEC going 0‑2 against Clemson, but have you forgotten Clemson is 0‑3 in the last three SEC meetings. I guess maybe you missed that with your morning coffee today.”

SEC’s Recent Decline And Clemson’s Record Against SEC Teams

Finebaum’s main jab goes against the recent realities for the SEC. For the first time since the 2013 and 2014 seasons, the SEC failed to produce a national championship team in back‑to‑back years.

The Big Ten claimed titles in both 2023 and 2024.

He emphasized that Clemson’s current streak against SEC programs stands at 0-3 in the past three contests. That includes losses against Georgia, South Carolina and Texas last season.

Dinich believes Clemson is underrated, given a lower-than-expected placement in the recent coaches' poll. Finebaum made it clear that the narrative of the SEC being steamrolled is overstated and that Clemson’s presumed success this year is far from a given.

Can SEC Get Back To Their High Standards In 2025?

Despite recent criticism, the SEC enters 2025 with four powerhouse programs in the top 10 of the preseason coaches poll. Texas leads the way at No. 1, followed by Georgia, Alabama, and LSU.

The Longhorns are loaded with talent and expectations, headlined by quarterback Arch Manning. Georgia returns a deep and experienced roster under Kirby Smart.

Alabama is hoping it can find the answer at the quarterback position in Kalen DeBoer's second season with the Crimson Tide. LSU, led by quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, has one of the most complete rosters in the country.

Beyond those four, the SEC features nine ranked teams overall, giving the league unmatched depth and strength. The mix of veteran head coaches, elite recruiting classes and high-level quarterback play signals that the SEC is well-positioned to bounce back.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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