Paul Finebaum: No one is shedding a tear for Oklahoma

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum doesn’t believe there is much sympathy for Oklahoma football. On ESPN’s College Football Podcast, Finebaum blasted Sooners coach Lincoln Riley for his comments about the way Baylor handled the end of Saturday’s game, which Oklahoma lost.

“A lot of people are saying, ‘Doesn’t this happen every November?’ with OU blowing a game,” Finebaum said. “The thing about Lincoln Riley saying what he did: I understand his point. But if we find out that Baylor misses the Big 12 game by one point, then how stupid does that look now? He was smart to know the rules. He got the field goal. I don’t have a problem with it. The whole scene was crazy, but Lincoln Riley talking about class and all that — Oklahoma showing a lot of class going out of (the Big 12) to join the SEC. I don’t think anybody’s crying for them this morning.”

Riley has been vocal in his displeasure with how Saturday’s game concluded, in particular the literal last second.

The Bears had the ball and a 24-14 lead with around a minute remaining. After kneeling the ball a couple of times, it appeared the game was over.

Fans began to rush the field in celebration of their top-10 victory, but they didn’t realize Baylor had called a timeout. It took some time to clear the field, but once officials had, the Bears lined up for a field goal. They knocked it in as time expired to claim a 27-14 lead.

Baylor coach Dave Aranda explained that he made the move because of the Big 12 tiebreaker rule. If the Bears, Sooners and Oklahoma State all end the year at 7-2 in league play, the tiebreaker goes to point differential. Baylor is now assured of reaching the Big 12 Championship game. Because someone else is going be in the negative across those three teams, and it won’t be the Bears.

Still, Riley wasn’t having this logical explanation.

“I know why Dave [Aranda] kicked the field goal,” Riley said. “I don’t agree with it. I still think above all else, there’s a code of sportsmanship that I believe in. I wouldn’t have done it. But that’s his decision, it’s his football team.”

To add insult to injury, Baylor fans ended the game chanting “S-E-C!” as Oklahoma is set to join the conference in 2025.

The Sooners are still guaranteed to make the Big 12 title game if they win their remaining two games against Iowa State and Oklahoma State. However, their College Football Playoff hopes are likely dashed. OU entered this week at No. 8 in the committee’s rankings and is sure to fall following the loss.

Should Oklahoma miss the CFP, it would mark the second straight season after the Sooners made appearances in Riley’s first three years as coach.

Oklahoma will next take the field at noon ET on Saturday in Norman against Iowa State with this quote from Paul Finebaum as bulletin board material.