Paul Finebaum Isn’t Buying the 2025 Ohio State Hype, Casting Doubt on Buckeyes’ National Championship Aspirations Despite Talent and Depth
It’s the heart of preseason hype season, and while most of the national media seems ready to crown Ohio State as a surefire College Football Playoff contender in 2025, one familiar voice isn’t sold—at all. That voice belongs to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, the often-controversial SEC commentator who has never shied away from criticizing the Buckeyes, and this summer he’s doubling down. Despite what many see as one of the most talented rosters in college football, Finebaum has made it clear in recent interviews and radio segments: he’s not buying the Buckeyes. Not this year. Not yet. And maybe not at all.
This isn’t the first time Finebaum has taken aim at Ohio State, and it certainly won’t be the last. But what’s notable this time around is just how dismissive he’s been about their 2025 prospects. Whether it’s on Get Up, The Paul Finebaum Show, or one of his many SEC Network appearances, he’s made the same case over and over again: Ohio State is soft. Ohio State is overhyped. Ohio State hasn’t proven it can win when it counts. And in his eyes, nothing about this season changes that narrative.
“If you look at the last three years,” Finebaum recently said on his show, “Ohio State has underachieved in the biggest moments. All the talent in the world, all the five-stars, all the expectations—but they haven’t delivered. And until they do, I’m not going to just hand them a playoff spot or start talking national title. This is a program that’s living off past glory, not present dominance.”
Predictably, those words sent shockwaves through Buckeye Nation. On fan forums, podcasts, and across social media, Ohio State fans have responded with anger, eye-rolls, and in some cases, grudging acknowledgment. After all, Finebaum isn’t wrong about the recent record in rivalry games or playoff appearances. Ohio State dropped three straight to Michigan from 2021–2023 and hasn’t won the Big Ten since 2020. In 2024, the Buckeyes broke the losing streak to the Wolverines in dramatic fashion, but still missed the College Football Playoff in a four-team race dominated by SEC and Pac-12 programs.
So is Finebaum simply stating the facts? Or is this yet another case of SEC bias wrapped in a veil of analysis?
For many, it’s the latter. Finebaum’s history with Ohio State is well-documented, and his apparent enjoyment in tweaking the fan base is part of his brand. He’s the guy who’s spent the better part of a decade defending Alabama while mocking Big Ten “toughness.” He’s the one who questioned Urban Meyer’s legacy while praising the likes of Kirby Smart and Nick Saban. And while that approach plays well with SEC audiences, it grates on those outside the South, especially when it comes to a program as storied—and as hated—as Ohio State.
Still, his criticisms this year are hitting harder than usual because of the stakes involved. Ohio State is supposed to be back in a big way in 2025. With Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair competing in one of the most talented quarterback rooms in America, and with a receiver group featuring Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Brandon Inniss, and Mylan Graham, the offensive firepower is undeniable. Add in a defense returning multiple key contributors at every level, and you’ve got what many analysts call the most complete roster in college football.
That’s what makes Finebaum’s dismissal so polarizing. He’s not even acknowledging the upside. Instead, he’s focused on the same narrative points that have followed Ohio State for the last few years: that they’ve been soft in the trenches, shaky under pressure, and untrustworthy when the lights are brightest.
“They can beat Indiana by 40 and flex their recruiting rankings all offseason,” Finebaum said. “But when they get in a playoff semifinal against a real team like Georgia or Alabama or Texas, what happens? They fold. Until Ryan Day proves he can finish the job, I’m not buying it. Sorry.”
The criticism of Day in particular has become a cornerstone of Finebaum’s Ohio State takes. And it’s not entirely unfair. Day is 56–8 as a head coach. He’s recruited at an elite level. He’s developed quarterbacks and sent a wave of talent to the NFL. But what he hasn’t done is win a national title. And in Columbus, that matters more than any stat sheet.
Still, context is important. Day’s Buckeyes nearly took down Georgia in the 2022 CFP semifinal, losing by a single point on a missed field goal. They dominated Clemson in 2020. And they’ve been in the Playoff conversation every year under his tenure. It’s not like this is a program spinning its wheels. But for Finebaum, those details are just window dressing for what he sees as a simple truth: the SEC wins titles. The Big Ten talks about them.
It’s a narrative that plays well on southern airwaves. But this year, even some neutral observers are beginning to push back. National analysts from outlets like The Athletic, CBS Sports, and 247Sports have all placed Ohio State firmly in their preseason top three. Most have them ranked No. 1 or No. 2. The buzz isn’t just local—it’s national. People see the talent. They see the coaching staff overhaul. They see the Chip Kelly factor and the renewed physicality on defense. And most of all, they see a team that’s been simmering for a year, ready to explode.
But to Paul Finebaum, that’s all just preseason noise.
“This happens every year,” he said. “Ohio State wins the offseason. They get the hype. And then come November or December, they fall short. We’ve seen this movie before.”
What makes his comments sting even more is how they contrast with his praise of Michigan. While many have questioned how the Wolverines will transition after the departure of Jim Harbaugh, Finebaum has been bullish on their ability to remain competitive under Sherrone Moore. He’s praised their toughness, their identity, and their ability to develop talent. For Buckeye fans, that’s salt in the wound. After all, Moore’s Wolverines are 0–1 against Ohio State. And yet Finebaum gives them the benefit of the doubt while hammering away at Columbus.
There’s also an underlying question of credibility. Finebaum’s expertise has never been in Xs and Os. He’s not breaking down film or evaluating linebacker drops. He’s a provocateur, a personality, someone who thrives on strong takes and heated reactions. That’s his role. That’s what he gets paid to do. But it also means that his analysis isn’t always grounded in the full picture. When he says Ohio State “folds in big games,” is he factoring in the razor-thin margins, the missed field goals, the elite opponents, and the context? Or is he just playing the hits?
Still, even among diehard Buckeye fans, some admit that there’s at least a kernel of truth in what Finebaum’s saying. Ohio State does have to prove it. Talent isn’t enough. Recruiting stars don’t win playoff games. And while the 2025 roster is loaded, the burden is on Ryan Day and his staff to deliver results. That means beating Michigan again. That means winning the Big Ten. And that means finishing the season in a way that leaves no doubt.
That’s why this year feels so important. With the College Football Playoff expanding, the window to win is open wider than ever—but the expectations are higher too. A two-loss season might not be good enough. A semifinal loss might be seen as a failure. The standard at Ohio State has always been national titles, and anything less in 2025 will only reinforce the narrative that Finebaum has been selling.
But maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe, in some way, Finebaum’s cynicism serves as fuel. Maybe the skepticism is exactly what the Buckeyes need—a reminder that the outside world doesn’t believe in them, that respect isn’t handed out, and that real dominance has to be earned. Because if this team really is as good as it looks on paper, they’ll have the chance to prove him wrong in the most public way possible.
Come November, Finebaum may be singing a different tune. If Julian Sayin lights up the Big Ten, if Jeremiah Smith becomes the next Buckeye receiver to dominate Saturdays, and if the defense transforms into a championship-caliber unit, the noise will shift. And if Ohio State finds itself lifting the trophy in January, you can bet someone will dig up those preseason clips and play them back for Finebaum in glorious, petty detail.
Until then, though, the talking continues. The doubts linger. And Paul Finebaum remains, as ever, the most consistent Ohio State skeptic in the business. Whether that motivates the Buckeyes or just annoys their fans is up to them. But one thing is certain: if Ohio State wants to silence him, there’s only one way to do it. Win everything.
