Paul Finebaum rips Dabo Swinney over College Football Playoff expansion comments
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Paul Finebaum is not buying into Dabo Swinney’s concerns regarding “unintended consequences” of expanding the College Football Playoff to 12 teams beginning this season.
While many college football observers expect the expanded postseason field to be well received by teams as having more to play for deeper into the season, Swinney is worried about over-emphasis on making the Playoff.
The Clemson coach raised the possibility of players quitting if their team is out of Playoff contention.
“You’ll probably see some guys, if you’re 4-4 and out of the playoffs, will probably head off to Arizona and train [for the NFL],” Swinney said, per ESPN’s David Hale. “You’ll see some situations like the NFL, where if the Ravens are in the playoffs and have it locked up with one more game that really means nothing, do you play Lamar [Jackson] in that game?”
Swinney also takes issue with the prioritization of being a conference champion. The top conference champs will receive a first-round bye. Swinney pondered a scenario in which an undefeated team might rest its stars for a regular-season finale rivalry clash to save them for the conference championship game.
“Maybe you’re 11-0 and have a rivalry game,” Swinney said, “but you have your biggest foe the next week in a conference championship and if you win that game, you’re going to get a [playoff] bye. Those are things that you’ll see play out all through college football.”
Paul Finebaum shreds Swinney’s take. How will his own take hold up?
Finebaum viewed Swinney’s comments as an opportunity to tear into one of his favorite targets. The ESPN host and commentator was asked for his thoughts on Thursday’s First Take. He didn’t hold back.
“I found it ironic that Dabo Swinney is upset about the new system,” Finebaum said. “I mean, he hasn’t been to the playoffs in four years, and he’s not going this year. So, Dabo, just get over it. You’re going to be watching it from home. Enjoy it.”
“This is the best thing that’s happened to college football in a long time, and leave it to Dabo Swinney — the curmudgeon, even though he’s still in his 50s — telling all the kids to get off his lawn. I don’t know what’s wrong with this man. He’s won a couple of championships. He’s had great teams. His dynasty and his era is over, so enjoy the $10 million a year and be quiet.”
Whether Finebaum is writing off Clemson a bit too early remains to be seen. ESPN’s FPI gives the Tigers a preseason ranking of No. 15. FPI, in its funky style, projects Clemson’s record at 8.5-3.8. At DraftKings Sportsbook, the Tigers’ 2024 win total is set at an over/under of 9.5 wins.
SPORTSBOOK
Based on last season’s rankings, Clemson needs to exceed preseason expectations to get back in the CFP. The top 12 teams in the final committee rankings, including the top five conference champions, all finished the 2023 regular season (and their conference championship games) with two losses or fewer.
We’ll see if Finebaum or Sweeney gets the last laugh in December.
.@finebaum reacts to Dabo Swinney’s recent comments on the new CFP format potentially bringing about “unintended consequences”
“He hasn’t been to the playoffs in four years, and he’s not going this year. So Dabo, just get over it. You’re going to be watching it from home.” pic.twitter.com/CnmbpHvbYd
— First Take (@FirstTake) July 18, 2024
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
