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Paul Finebaum says the Big Ten is indefensible as an elite football league
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Paul Finebaum doesn’t want to hear about the fact the Big Ten has 4 teams ranked in the top 10 of the AP Poll, or the fact that the league is likely a lock to put those 4 teams into the first 12-team College Football Playoff.
Regardless of how the Big Ten is positioned, Finebaum isn’t convinced the league is an elite conference this season. A large part of that has to do with the way Ohio State fell flat on its face in a rivalry loss to Michigan.
One of Finebaum’s ESPN counterparts, Greg McElroy, began the discussion on Monday by also labeling the Big Ten as “vastly overrated” across the board:
“I personally believe that the Big Ten is vastly overrated as far as depth, quality, personnel across the board. The Ohio State loss this weekend was completely inexplicable,” said McElroy during Monday’s broadcast of the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning show. “So just overall, 30,000-foot perspective of the Big Ten how they’re perceived and how they should be perceived.”
Before Finebaum dove into the overall strength (or lack of strength) in the B1G, he took aim once again at Ohio State. He felt the need to remind fans that traditionally, Ryan Day’s loss in The Game would eliminate the Buckeyes from contention.
“Any other year, (Ohio State’s loss) is a disqualifier for anything. The fact that Ohio State loses the biggest game of the year, doesn’t show up at home and they still get a ticket into this says a lot of things,” Finebaum explained. “It mainly says that it’s hard identifying this many good teams in a college football season.”
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As for the B1G’s perception, Finebaum said many fans took aim at the SEC for a Week 14 performance, but it’s really the B1G that cannot be defended. He sees just one truly elite team this season.
“It was open season on the SEC over the weekend, which is fine… there’s no way you can defend the Big Ten,” said Finebaum. “I think they have 1 elite team in Oregon and 2 next level in Ohio State and Penn State, even though I think Ohio State is capable of beating anyone in the country because of the amount of talent they have gone out and bought.”
Will the B1G flip that perception in the Playoff, or will the SEC flex its perceived dominance with a national title?
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
