Paul Finebaum: 'The book on Jimbo Fisher is closing' at Texas A&M

Texas A&M suffered yet another loss this weekend with a quality opportunity within reach in Oxford. Now, as the Aggies sit at 5-4, Paul Finebaum believes we’ve seen about all we need to when it comes to this tenure in the program’s history.

Finebaum put A&M’s 38-35 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday into perspective during ‘The Matt Barrie Show’ on Sunday. Based on his feel around the Aggies, he believes the verdict is very much in on Jimbo Fisher.

“I’ll say this again about Jimbo Fisher. That was his fourth loss, he still has to go to Baton Rouge,” said Finebaum. “I don’t know exactly what conversations are going on. But the feeling in Oxford, which is where I spent yesterday, was that the book on Jimbo Fisher is closing.”

“There’s just nothing else to say,” Finebaum continued. “What else do you need to see, if you’re a Texas A&M administrator, from him that, next year, is going to be any different from this year?”

For the school to buy Fisher out, though, Finebaum believes they want to have a plan first. He doesn’t feel like they’ll make that call unless they’re certain that the next coach will guarantee better results.

“To make that change? They have to have an answer,” explained Finebaum. “I think what A&M people are trying to figure out here is, if we make this change, then who comes in? Otherwise, they have enough talent on that roster to maybe turn two or three games and have a good season.”

After four straight seasons of eight or nine wins, many felt like Texas A&M would take the next step. However, they’ve actually moved in the opposite direction with a 5-7 finish in ’22 and what’ll likely be a 7-5 finish in ’23 by the time it’s said and done.

Still, even if Texas A&M were to win out and finish at 8-4, they’d be right back to where they started from 2018 to 2021. That’s why, rather than remaining in this loop of not meeting their high expectations, Finebaum believes some form of a parting of ways could be on the table in College Station.

“Hear me clearly: Jimbo Fisher may be there next year. I don’t know and I’m not about to claim that I do. But I don’t think it’s the money,” said Finebaum. “If they want to make a change? They’ll make a change, whether it’s $77 million or a normal buyout.”

“The idea that we’re talking national championships anymore at A&M under Jimbo Fisher? I mean that train is long, long gone,” Finebaum said.