Paul Finebaum explains why he doesn’t view Oklahoma as an SEC contender despite impressive start
By David Wasson
Published:
ESPN college football pundit Paul Finebaum is always full of opinions, and he has turned his attention to the 4-0 Oklahoma Sooners – specifically why he doesn’t view the Sooners as a bona-fide contender in the SEC this season.
“I am not going to be a prisoner of the moment,” Finebaum said Sunday on The Matt Barrie Show. “Their defense is elite, but let’s give Auburn’s defense some credit too. (The Sooners) kept their woeful offense in the game… Ultimately, I don’t think Oklahoma is one of the two best teams in the SEC.”
Finebaum went on to offer that Oklahoma’s upcoming schedule, which includes the annual Red River Rivalry in 3 weeks against No. 10 Texas as well as a brutal end stretch that sees the Sooners play ranked conference team in Ole Miss, Tennessee, Alabama, Missouri and LSU, will be a factor.
“They have a Florida-like schedule, and Michigan and Auburn were just in the middle of the schedule,” Finebaum said of the Sooners, who are ranked No. 7 in the country after downing Auburn 24-17 last weekend. “How do they survive that? The vibe out there in talking to (Oklahoma coach) Brent Venables is that they had to win that game to keep momentum going. He has been tossed and turned as far as his status goes.
“I’m not being a hater. I just don’t believe yet that they are a legitimate SEC title contender.”
Oklahoma is idle in Week 5 and will host Kent State in Week 6 with a chance to improve to 5-0 on the season.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
