Paul Finebaum Names College Football Coach He’d ‘Never Bet On’ originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
In an era where sports media members are frequently concerned about relationships with athletes or coaches, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum is not looking to spare anyone’s feelings.
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The 69-year-old college football analyst has never been shy about saying what he thinks, regardless of the reaction it will spark, and over the past couple of days, fans and his fellow colleagues were reminded of this.
When appearing on ESPN’s “Get Up,” Finebaum and fellow college football insider Heather Dinich were asked to fire off predictions as to who would be the last team standing when things are all said and done on January 19, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
While Finebaum eventually revealed Texas as his pick, Dinich’s selection of Penn State left him befuddled. It also sparked a rant about how little he trusts head coach James Franklin to get the program over the hump.
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“RC, give me that SEC card back again. Heather, you had me until you said number one in the country,” Finebaum said via On3. “There is no way. Texas is the best team in the country. They are going to win the national championship. There is no way the Big Ten does it three years in a row. And certainly if I had to bet on somebody, I would never bet on James Franklin doing it. He’s a very good coach. He’s not a great coach. Penn State will not win the national championship.”
Penn State Nittany Lions HC James Franklin.© Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
While Franklin has led the Nittany Lions to three consecutive 10+ win seasons, top teams in the Big Ten and around the country have proven to be his kryptonite.
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What is James Franklin’s Record Against Top-5 Teams?
According to CBS Sports, Penn State has a 1-14 record against teams that rank within the top five under Franklin, which indicates Dinich is expecting him to crack the code. Or, she is predicting that the rest of the top teams in the country will fall before Penn State has to play them.
Regardless of what the thought process is, Finebaum is not buying it.
Penn State’s last title came in 1986.
Related: Auburn Fans Dealt Unexpected Jackson Arnold News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
