5 Dumb Takes From So-Called College Football Expert Paul Finebaum

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, long known as the authority on all things college football, especially down south, isn't above confusing the masses with some truly baffling hot takes. These five predictions sound ridiculous when you first hear them, and then start to make even less sense when you analyze it further.

5. Dabo Swinney Not Giving Kelly Bryant a Ring Will Hurt Him in Recruting

Was it childish and petty for Swinney to not give Bryant a ring after he transferred? Without a doubt. Will it change the fabric of the program and their recruiting momentum? Of course not. Clemson has one of the top 2020 classes already, including the top quarterback in that class in DJ Uiagalelei. Clemson will be just fine in the post-Bryant era, despite what noted Tigers hater Finebaum thinks.

4. The Big 12 is "The Titanic", Oklahoma Wants to Leave

While the conference is not what it was in the days of Tom Osborne and Barry Switzer, and replaced conference stalwarts Nebraska, Texas A&M, and Missouri with TCU and West Virginia, it's still buoyed by two of the best programs in the country in Oklahoma and Texas. Lincoln Riley's Sooners remain a contender for the National Championship and have birthed two Heisman winners in two straight years. That doesn't really speak to a conference or program that is in dire straits of any kind.

3. The SEC Isn't a Powerhouse Anymore

There was a moment in 2017 that the SEC started to have a marginal turn downward, and this was the jinx that caused the conference to reverse course and reassert their dominance across all of college football. Possessing the deepest conference, the most NFL players by far and a minimum of four teams with at least an outside shot of winning the title, the SEC is chugging along better than it ever has.

2. Benny Snell > Herschel Walker

I don't care if this was created just to get a rise out of people, this needs to be talked about. Glossing over the fact that Snell isn't even as good as Leonard Fournette, the gap between Snell and Walker, the most athletically-gifted back the SEC has ever seen not named Bo Jackson and the best Georgia back who ever lived, is the Grand Canyon. Snell was dominant last year and should be in line for a solid year with the Steelers, but this is lunacy.

1. The Buckeyes Might Not Have Won Enough Under Urban Meyer

Let's take a look at Urban Meyer's record at Ohio State. Meyer went 83-9 in Columbus, won his division every year, won the Big Ten three times, went 5-2 in bowl games, made the playoff twice, and won a national championship. Exactly where should he have won more, Paul?