Latest news with #ThePaulFinebaumShow
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Brian Kelly Dealt Blunt Reality Check Amid Growing Hype Around LSU
Brian Kelly Dealt Blunt Reality Check Amid Growing Hype Around LSU originally appeared on Athlon Sports. There is a lot of hype surrounding the LSU Tigers and head coach Brian Kelly ahead of the 2025 college football season. However, that's to be expected for a SEC powerhouse like the Tigers. Advertisement Despite that, one college football analyst believes everyone should pump the brakes because Kelly has yet to accomplish much of anything since his arrival in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. While on the Paul Finebaum Show, 247Sports analyst Brad Crawford explained his reasons why, if anything, Kelly should be on the hot seat. "Brian Kelly hit the mark. He knows this, on paper, is the best roster he's had. For me, LSU's big thing this summer has been 'Don't buy into the hype. Don't read the press clippings. Don't watch 'The Paul Finebaum Show,'" said Crawford Per the 247Sports' 2025 transfer portal team rankings, LSU had the top class with 18 commitments. The Tigers paired that with the No. 10 recruiting class in 2025, which included two five-star and 19 four-star commitments. Advertisement With all those incoming players, LSU's roster is chock-full of new talent, and it's reflected in the added expectations surrounding the program. "LSU is a team that should get to the (College Football) Playoff. Now 'should' is not 'would' or 'is it possible' because we've seen the last five years, LSU has not won a season opener," Crawford continued. Kelly arrived with the Tigers ahead of the 2022 college football season, so this losing streak in opening games stretches beyond his tenure. LSU has lost to USC and Florida State twice over the last three years under Kelly. LSU Tigers head coach Brian Chenault-Imagn Images The Tigers lost to UCLA in 2021 and to Mississippi State in 2020. LSU is travelling to Clemson to kick off the 2025 season on Aug. 30. Advertisement "With [quarterback] Garrett Nussmeier, a guy I think will be the No. 1 pick in next year's draft," said Crawford. "(Kelly has) got to get it done this time around or Brian Kelly is going to be on the hot seat by November." Finebaum responded to Crawford's bold statement by saying that Kelly is going to be a regular guest on his show throughout the season, and he would use Crawford's quote to see what Kelly thinks about it. LSU is ranked at No. 6 in ESPN's latest way-too-early college football rankings, and analyst Mark Schlabach shares a similar sentiment with Crawford that the Tigers should be "in the thick of the SEC title and CFP races." Related: Former LSU HC Issues Blunt Reality Check to Brian Kelly Before Tigers' 2025 Season Related: Kirby Smart, Georgia Reportedly Made a Move To Steal 5-Star WR Away From Alabama This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Reports: Donald Trump's proposed presidential commission put on hold
According to reports, plans to create a presidential commission to oversee key issues in college sports have been placed on hold. The commission championed by President Donald Trump was slated to be headed by former Alabama football coach Nick Saban and ex-Texas Tech offensive lineman Cody Campbell, who's now the chairman of the Texas Tech Board of Regents. The commission idea gained steam after May 1, when Trump spoke at the University of Alabama's graduation ceremony that also included an address from Saban. With multiple issues clouding the college sports landscape - including powerful Name, Image, Likeness questions that the courts and Congress have been trying to answer - the presidential commission sounded like another avenue to find solutions. But two weeks after meeting with Trump in Tuscaloosa, Saban appeared on "The Paul Finebaum Show" and claimed the commission might not be necessary. "I think that a lot of people know exactly what the issues are in college football and exactly what we need to do to fix them," Saban told Finebaum. "I think the key to the drill is getting people together so we can move it forward. I'm not opposed to players making money. I don't want anybody to think that. I just think the system, the way it's going right now, it's not sustainable and probably not in the best interests of the student-athletes across the board or the game itself." Presumably, putting the presidential commission on the back burner suggests other legislative avenues are making headway. According to The Athletic, a bipartisan Congressional group led by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has devoted "hundreds of hours" to solving what ails college sports. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2025 - All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House pausing plans for presidential commission on college sports: Source
By Justin Williams, Sam Khan Jr. and Chris Vannini Plans for a presidential commission exploring issues in college sports have been paused, a source familiar with the plans confirmed to on Thursday. The commission will be paused indefinitely as members of Congress continue to pursue legislation in hopes of addressing major issues facing college sports, the source said. There is no definitive timetable for when the commission could resume, but planning and coordinating could continue in the interim. Yahoo Sports was the first to report that the commission would be paused. Advertisement Former Alabama coach Nick Saban and Texas Tech board of regents chair Cody Campbell were the expected co-chairs of the commission and met in person last week and were said to be aligned on key issues. A presidential commission would typically dig into various aspects of an issue or enterprise and deliver a report suggesting possible solutions that could involve executive and legislative action. But Saban has publicly downplayed the need for a commission in recent public statements. During a May 14 appearance on 'The Paul Finebaum Show,' Saban simultaneously downplayed the commission's necessity while advocating for solutions from a group of people. 'Well, first of all, I don't know a lot about the commission. Secondly, I'm not sure we really need a commission,' Saban said on the show. 'I think a lot of people know exactly what the issues are in college football and exactly what we need to do to fix them. I think the key to the drill is getting people together so that we can move it forward.' Advertisement Saban discussed possibly constructing a group that addresses the ongoing legal, financial and competitive issues college sports have struggled to navigate in this era of name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation and the transfer portal. 'I think there are a lot of people out there that know how to fix it,' Saban said. 'I just think we have to push it forward and get everybody together, and some of it may need to be done on the federal level.' News of the possible commission broke on May 7, shortly after President Donald J. Trump spoke at Alabama's commencement and visited with Saban personally afterward. College sports leaders have been lobbying Congress for several years for a bill that would support the NCAA and conferences as they try to regain control of regulating college athletics issues, including NIL compensation, transfer portal movement and possibly obtaining an antitrust exemption. Advertisement Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has been leading a bipartisan group, including Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who is working on a bill that could provide some relief to the NCAA and conferences. In early May, Cruz expressed optimism about the possible legislation, while acknowledging the multiple steps that remain in the process. 'That is actively moving forward,' Cruz said on May 6. 'We are negotiating. I think we are close to having a bipartisan product that can move. … I think college athletics is in crisis, and Congress has an obligation to step in and solve this problem. 'That is a major priority for me and for this committee. We have been spending hundreds of hours working, trying to get bipartisan agreement.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. College Football, Men's College Basketball, Sports Business, Women's College Basketball, College Sports 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Picks College Football Team Ending 5-Year Playoff Drought in 2025
The 2024 College Football Playoff featured six teams making their first appearances in the postseason tournament. Among the returning teams, the Oregon Ducks had the longest playoff drought, having last qualified in 2014, the inaugural year of the playoff. Advertisement The Clemson Tigers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish ended their nearly five-year droughts, as neither team had participated since 2020. Meanwhile, several teams that have previously made the playoffs are hoping to return in 2025. These teams include the Oklahoma Sooners, who haven't made it since 2019, the Cincinnati Bearcats, who last appeared in 2021, the Florida State Seminoles, who have not qualified since 2014 and the LSU Tigers, who last played in 2019. All of them are eager to end their respective playoff droughts this season. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst selected one of these teams to overcome their struggles and return to national title contention. LSU Tigers head coach Brian Kelly reacts to a play against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Tiger Lew "Right now, I would have to think of LSU as a playoff team," Finebaum said. "It's crowded. In the SEC, you essentially have Texas, I believe you have Alabama, Georgia, LSU and who is next?" Advertisement The Tigers have high hopes for the upcoming season after finishing last season with a 9-4 record. They return 62% of their production, which ranks No. 38 in the nation. A key player returning is star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season. Additionally, LSU retains junior linebacker Whit Weeks and sophomore running back Caden Durham. Weeks led the team with 125 tackles and recorded 10 tackles for loss last season, while Durham rushed for 753 yards and scored six touchdowns as a true freshman. The Tigers also benefit from a favorable schedule as according to Athlon Sports, they have the No. 6 easiest schedule in the SEC. Finebaum highlighted the critical game for LSU as the matchup against the Ole Miss Rebels on the road on September 27. He also mentioned that LSU cannot afford to lose to the Florida Gators, as it did last season. The Tigers will kick off their season with a significant away game against the Clemson Tigers on August 30. Related: Paul Finebaum Says This Major SEC Team Is Top Tier — But Not the Best
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kalen DeBoer gives update on Alabama quarterback outlook during 'The Paul Finebaum Show'
Kalen DeBoer gives update on Alabama quarterback outlook during 'The Paul Finebaum Show' Throughout the college football offseason, one of the biggest talking points surrounding the Alabama Crimson Tide has been the program's quarterback competition. Tasked with replacing a two-year starter in Jalen Milroe, Alabama has three different players competing for the spot as the Crimson Tide's starter this offseason, but it is a unique position battle as all three have minimal experience at the collegiate level. Of the trio, redshirt junior Ty Simpson is easily the most experienced of the three, but has completed only 29-of-50 pass attempts with three rushing touchdowns as a backup from 2022-24. Austin Mack, who also returns, is the lone player with a touchdown pass to his name in college, but has only three career passing attempts, while touted five-star freshman Keelon Russell has yet to appear in a collegiate game. Because of this, it's clear as to why Alabama's quarterback competition has garnered so much attention during this offseason. However, did a leader begin to emerge at the position during spring practice, and if so, who? RELATED: Predicting Alabama's 2025 depth chart post-spring Well, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has recently commented on the current state of Alabama's quarterback competition post-spring as well, saying on ESPN's "The Paul Finebaum Show." "We got the three guys, and they're all, really, at different spots in their careers. Ty, having been in the program for a couple of years, and then, really, Austin getting a chance to take his first meaningful reps in practice this spring, and Keelon joining as an early enrollee. So, if you had to play, you kind of right now go with the veteran in Ty, did a nice job this spring, as did the others. We just need to keep that competition going. They know that. That's their expectation because they know that where they're at right now isn't good enough to where we need to be to have the success we want to have as a football team." Alabama will not return to the practice field until August when the Crimson Tide begin fall camp. Will it be Simpson as the top option under center then, as well as in Week 1 against Florida State on Saturday, Aug. 30? Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
