Paul Finebaum says Alabama’s loss to Oklahoma ‘doesn’t feel that bad’
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The longest home winning streaks in college football entering the 2025 season belonged to Georgia, Washington, Oregon, Alabama and Boise State. Prior to Week 12, the Crimson Tide were the only team from that quintet to not suffer a home loss this year. That changed on Saturday, when Oklahoma came into Tuscaloosa and left with a 23-21 victory.
When Alabama loses at Bryant-Denny Stadium, the Crimson Tide fanbase typically loses its collective mind. However, following the Sooners’ triumph, it’s Paul Finebaum functioning as Alabama’s voice of reason. On Monday’s episode of McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, he told the college football commentators that the defeat at Oklahoma’s hands isn’t the worst thing in the world.
“It is inexcusable when you consider everything that is at stake… but at this point of the season, you really don’t get caught up as much on hyperbole,” Finebaum said. “The reality is, Alabama’s still in reasonably good shape… in any other year, in the past, this would have been cataclysmic. But it doesn’t feel that bad, and I don’t sense the reaction — yet, being the operative word — has been that bad because the Auburn game is still ahead.”
The Sooners were the fifth ranked opponent that Kalen DeBoer and Co. have battled this season. The Crimson Tide are 4-1 in those contests, and have just Eastern Illinois and Auburn remaining on the schedule before a potential SEC Championship appearance. If Alabama handles business versus the Panthers and Tigers, it will be in the CFP. And once you’re in, anything can happen. Kickoff for Saturday’s game with Eastern Illinois is at 2:00 p.m. E.T. (SEC Network+).
