Paul Finebaum: ‘Check your SEC ego at the door,’ Ohio State is better than Texas

Paul Finebaum is ready for him and others to check the SEC ego at the door. The ESPN commentator previously waved the white flag regarding the SEC and Alabama, but he took it a step further.

With Ohio State taking on Texas in the Cotton Bowl, you’d naturally think Finebaum would have an argument for the Longhorns to win in the College Football Playoff semifinal. Well, it wasn’t that easy.

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Especially with the way Ohio State dismantled Tennessee and Oregon in back to back playoff games.

“I had somebody ask me yesterday, I guess you’ll pick Texas,” Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show. “And I said, I guess. You’re wrong because, I mean, you can check your SEC ego at the door. I don’t understand how you could pick Texas right now, Matt.

“You’re just simply fighting a headwind and saying, ‘okay, that (Ohio State), that if they had lost to Oregon, that would not have surprised me as much, right? Because maybe they had that one blowout game, (a win over Tennessee). But now this isn’t just an outlier. This is a trend that’s hard to fight.”

Finebaum pointed out how Ohio State might be peaking at the right time and there’s nothing you can do to stop the Buckeyes. Even if you’re Texas coming off an epic overtime win over Arizona State.

“Ohio State’s like Mike Tyson was at his peak,” Finebaum said. “I mean, you couldn’t even walk out the middle of the ring before you were getting knocked out. And that’s where they are. And you know, Texas let Clemson back in the game. They should have blown Georgia out in the SEC Championship, and they just simply couldn’t score a touchdown. They had to settle for field goals. 

“It’s hard to really believe in them. Quinn Ewers, for all the criticism, he has made some unbelievable plays this year. You saw it the other day, but he also leaves something to be desired. I think Texas is formidable. But that first quarter will be fascinating to watch. If Ohio State is struggling, then we will have a game. Otherwise, watch out.”

Ohio State and Texas square off in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Cotton Bowl Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET.