Paul Finebaum reveals why he hasn't changed his view on LSU

Paul Finebaum’s stance on LSU has not changed with Week Zero and the start of the college football season right around the corner.

The Tigers are a popular pick to win the SEC West again and maybe even win the conference to get to the College Football Playoff. But Finebaum doesn’t want those people living in the past, as in what LSU did last year in Brian Kelly’s first season.

Don’t forget, there’s still a school named Alabama in the same division as LSU.

“I have not changed my view,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “I thought they were the No. 2  team in the West from the beginning. And I thought some of the media day hype was overdone. I think you can’t talk about a team in the present by telling me what they did last year. And that’s all I ever hear is: ‘well, they beat Nick Saban.’ Maybe that doesn’t matter anymore. It’s what they can do against Florida State and I’m pretty concerned about that game.”

Finebaum said LSU and the fans shouldn’t be looking ahead this season, especially past an opener against Florida State.

“I mean, I don’t know how any legitimate person outside of some guy in the bayou calling you on your show or mine is screaming and hollering about how great they are, could feel confident going into that game,” Finebaum said. “It just to me, looks like a 10-2 to an 11-1 team. It’s very good, but … I have Alabama winning in Tuscaloosa and I’ve heard nothing yet that would dissuade me from that.”

LSU has a lot of potential, but don’t forget about the expectations, especially after the fanbase saw what Kelly did during his first year.

“And my question more specifically for LSU is do we see a consistent product from the Tigers in 2023,” On3’s JD PicKell said live from SEC Media Days, echoing comments made by Finebaum. “Because potential is fun to talk about and there’s tons of potential on this roster at LSU. But you can only talk about potential for so long. And the reality is for LSU they’re not a fan base that just won nine games, high five and walk off and have a good time like that. That’s not what they’re signing up for at LSU. 

“That’s not what they expect. I want to look at LSU (like) they’re a lot like the talking phase of the whole dating scene, if you will. Like it’s fun to talk about winning 10 games. It’s fun to talk to, you know, that attractive whoever you’re talking to, but the reality is, at some point in time you get to determine what you’re going to be.”