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Ric Flair trashes Paul Finebaum, invokes Jim Harbaugh following Ohio State win over Texas

Danby: Daniel Hager08/30/25DanielHagerOn3
Ric-Flair-trashes-Paul-Finebaum-invokes-Jim-Harbaugh-following-Ohio-State-win-over-Texas
© Abbey Cutrer / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK | © Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Defending National Champion No. 3 Ohio State opened the 2025 season with a 14-7 win over No. 1 Texas on Saturday, likely cementing its place atop the AP Top 25 poll on Monday.

The loss (and less-than-stellar play of Texas QB Arch Manning) has led many to eat crow, including ESPN‘s Paul Finebaum. Finebaum, who spent the last week claiming that the Longhorns would dominate Ohio State, was called out following the game by wrestling legend Ric Flair for his takes.

“Dear Mr. Finebaum, as usual you are the most absurd and incompetent analyst in all of college football,” Flair wrote on Twitter/X Saturday afternoon. “I’ll take Heather Dinich any day over you. You should be expelled from ESPN. Every time I see you on the TV, I turn it off. You have 22,000 followers. I have 9.3 million followers.”

“The fact that you would call out Jim Harbaugh last year and say that he will never be able to coach in the pros and now he will probably win a Super Bowl! And the fact that you are predicting that Texas will murder Ohio State is insane! Go look In the mirror and find something else to do for a living. So embarrassing!”

Finebaum claimed Texas would beat Ohio State ‘badly’

Ohio State jumped out to a 14-0 lead early in the fourth quarter, but Manning found wide receiver Parker Livingstone for a 32-yard touchdown with 3:28 remaining to cut into the lead. Texas regained the ball with 2:26 remaining and had a chance to tie the game at 14, but Manning failed to convert a 4th & 3 with 1:27 to cement the Buckeye win.

“I expect Texas to beat them, and I think they’re going to beat them badly,” Finebaum stated, via Tuesday morning’s edition of ‘Get Up‘ on ESPN. “I know people are saying, ‘Are you out of your mind?’ Well, that may be up for debate, but I really think Texas is the better team.”

“I don’t like Ohio State’s situation, from a coaching standpoint. Two new coordinators. Yes, both teams have new quarterbacks, but Arch Manning has a lot more experience than Julian Sayin. Remember, he came over from Alabama after [Nick] Saban retired.”

The Longhorns certainly made a case for being the better team, as they out-gained the Buckeyes 336-203 and recorded five more first downs. However, Ohio State finished off the win and has now staked its claim as the top dog in the sport.