Paul Finebaum Names Big Ten Team that Will Never be a Good Program

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 11:00 AM ET

The Big Ten is arguably the best conference in college football, especially after having teams win the championship in back-to-back years: first, the Michigan Wolverines in 2023, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024.

This achievement marked only the second time since 2006 that an SEC school did not win a national championship in consecutive seasons. The previous instance occurred in 2013 and 2014, when the Florida State Seminoles and the Ohio State Buckeyes claimed titles. Following that, the SEC dominated, winning six out of the next eight national championships.

The Big Ten does have weaknesses. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst suggested that one of these weaknesses may never be addressed.

"I realize UCLA plays in the Big Ten," Finebaum said. "Supposedly a great league. But they are not a good program, and they never will be."

UCLA was once a highly regarded football program, winning 17 conference championships and a national championship in 1954. The Bruins were recognized as one of the top 10 programs by ESPN during both the 1950s and 1980s.

However, the team has experienced challenging years lately. Since 1999, UCLA has recorded only three seasons with 10 wins, while having 14 seasons with a record of .500 or worse, including a disappointing 5-7 finish last season.

This season is not anticipated to be much better. According to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), UCLA is projected to finish 13th in the Big Ten and achieve another 5-7 record. This comes despite the addition of quarterback Nico Iamaleava, one of the most sought-after recruits in the transfer portal.

Iamaleava was a five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class. In the previous season, he threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. While his statistics may not have been remarkable, he played a vital role in leading the Tennessee Volunteers to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

UCLA will kick off the season at home against the Utah Utes at 11 p.m. ET on Aug. 30.

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

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