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Paul Finebaum 'out' on Ryan Day as best coach in college football, picks Kirby Smart

IMG_6598by:Nick Koskoabout 17 hours

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Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Paul Finebaum is still out on Ryan Day as the top coach in college football despite winning the national championship Monday night.

Finebaum gave the Buckeyes’ coach his due, but he’s still a step below a certain someone in the SEC: Kirby Smart. Why? He has a few more accolades under his belt at this current time.

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So the ESPN commentator had to explain why Day wasn’t at the top of the mountain at this  

“I am Paul out on that and I know it is easy to be a prisoner of the moment,” Finebaum said. “He is one of the best coaches in the country. He has overcome amazing things. Let’s give him the credit that he deserves. But no, I cannot say he’s the best coach in the country, because he was able to navigate Ohio State. He could be one day, if he can figure out that Michigan bugaboo at the end of November, but right now, he is one of the best, but by far not the best.”

Finebaum opted to go with Smart because of his previous seasons and what he’s established so far. Maybe Day has to beat Michigan first and then he’ll get to the top of the proverbial coaching mountain.

“Well, I know he lost, but I would still say Kirby Smart is better,” Finebaum said. “He’s been in the championship game a number of times. He has two wins. He has a couple of losses in that game, but ultimately, I think he still has it. I think Kirby Smart is the best. I think Ryan Day is very close. I think Marcus Freeman, with a win last night, would’ve put himself in contention. He’s still one of the best and maybe one of the faces of college football as well.”

To be fair, Day is now “vindicated,” per Finebaum.

“He has been fully vindicated,” Finebaum “Yes, Michigan is important. Losing four in a row, but winning the national championship trumps everything in the poker game of college football and today he stands on the top of it …

“It was a remarkable run. The fact that he did not have to play in a conference championship may have been the key. It gave him time to decompress, to talk to his team, to get over that Michigan loss, to get on one of the most incredible runs we have ever seen.”