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Paul Finebaum pushes back on question about if Texas should've stayed in Big 12

On3 imageby: Dan Morrison12 hours agodan_morrison96
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Maria Lysaker | Imagn Images

It’s the second season for the Texas Longhorns in the SEC, and things have turned sideways for the team. Once the preseason No. 1 team in the country, Texas has suffered its third loss of the season and is now in doubt for the College Football Playoff.

Those three losses are being attributed by some as a result of playing a difficult schedule in the SEC. On paper, it’s a much more difficult one than would come from playing in the Big 12. So, when SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum appeared on SportsCenter on Sunday morning, he was asked if that move from one conference to another was a mistake. Unsurprisingly, that led to some pushback from Finebaum.

“What a prisoner of the moment question, gentlemen,” Paul Finebaum said. “Please. I am out on that. I mean, come on. Do I need to remind you that Texas was in the semifinals last year, on the goalline against Ohio State, knocking on their door?”

As it relates to the College Football Playoff, Texas made it in its last season as a Big 12 team. That was the first trip for the Longhorns to the CFP and the last season it was played under the four-team format. They would again make it in their first season in the SEC, making a run to the semifinal. So, Texas has found a similar amount of recent success in both conferences.

This season, making the CFP with three losses is a much longer shot. However, Paul Finebaum hasn’t ruled out Texas yet. In fact, he thinks the Longhorns have a real shot at making it, so why would they regret the move to the SEC?

“I will not bring up the fact that they were No. 1 going into the season,” Finebaum said. “Because that will only help you bury my argument even more. I can not explain what has happened to this team, but do I need to also remind you that if they beat Texas A&M, and I think they might, they very well may end up in the Playoff after all, making this question, I don’t know, silly.”

The move to the SEC triggered a massive round of conference realignment that, by the time the dust settled, had reshaped multiple conferences. It, undeniably, has brought more eyes to the SEC and been a financial boost for Texas at the same time. However, it’s likely too early to tell if it was truly the right or wrong choice for Texas.