The Alabama Crimson Tide’s unexpected 19-13 loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the ReliaQuest Bowl has sent a shockwave through the college football world. Some of Alabama’s most fervent advocates have backpedaled since the loss, but the most surprising of them all is ESPN analyst, Paul Finebaum.
Finebaum has finally given up the fight for Alabama’s spot in the College Football Playoffs and (literally) waved a white flag in surrender. In a way, this symbolizes the end of the back-and-forth between the supporters and critics of the current College Football Playoff format — at least in regards to the SEC vs. Big Ten debates it conjured.
Paul Finebaum Jumps Off the Alabama Bandwagon
Finebaum has been the biggest supporter of the “Alabama Parade,” but he seems to have switched sides after their unsatisfactory performance against Michigan. In December, Finebaum had put a lot of effort into defending the Crimson Tide after they were left out of the 12-team dance.
“The biggest problem this committee had is that Warde Manuel, the athletic director at Michigan, got up on Tuesday night and completely blew it,” Finebaum said. “He said things that committee chairmen never say. And by the way, I appreciate him being transparent, but he put a roadblock up, and he essentially said, what you alluded to.
“And the reason why that committee went the direction there are people that represent college football and to make it easy for the audience, the college championship games bring in 10s, if not hundreds of millions of dollars, and they would have in essence, issued a Supreme Court ruling saying they are null and void.
“So, Alabama got jobbed. But again, Alabama did it to themselves. So they preserved the conference championship games at least for another year. They’re not going to be around long. You and I both know that.”
Despite his passionate defense of Alabama, Finebaum would soon find himself retracing his steps.
The ‘Mouth of the South’ Surrenders Defense of Alabama
Finebaum dismissed Alabama in a surprise move on Wednesday’s episode of “Get Up.” He had previously advocated for them to have a spot in this season’s College Football Playoff after they were left out in favor of the SMU Mustangs. But after their performance against the Wolverines, Finebaum’s arguments for Alabama no longer held water.
“I led the Alabama parade to get them into the playoffs,” Finebaum said. “On the first day of the new year, I’m surrendering. I am waving the white flag. Forget Alabama.”
Paul Finebaum: “I led the Alabama parade to get them into the playoffs… on the first day of the new year, I’m surrendering. I am waiving the white flag. Forget Alabama!” pic.twitter.com/FfKCTlgcFd
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 1, 2025
To say Finebaum’s admission is unexpected would be an understatement, but it is perfectly understandable. The Crimson Tide faithful naturally felt they were shunned after the team was omitted from the playoff. The one-sided games in the first round strengthened their conviction that Alabama belonged in the playoff field.
That said, whether they deserved to be selected for the playoff or not, losing to the unranked Michigan Wolverines in a bowl game was all the proof that naysayers needed. This has left Alabama supporters, including Finebaum, without a leg to stand on.
The Crimson Tide must bounce back in 2025 as a dominant team for the first time in the post-Nick Saban era.
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