ESPN’s Paul Finebaum takes direct shot at Ohio State while praising Notre Dame ahead of National Championship
Ohio State entered the 2024 season with high expectations thanks to a loaded veteran roster. Reaching the National Championship was always the big goal for the team and they have a chance to win it next Monday against Notre Dame. The Buckeyes returned a boatload of talent that could have declared for the NFL last […]
Ohio State entered the 2024 season with high expectations thanks to a loaded veteran roster. Reaching the National Championship was always the big goal for the team and they have a chance to win it next Monday against Notre Dame.
The Buckeyes returned a boatload of talent that could have declared for the NFL last go around, as well as went out and made some big additions in the transfer portal.
Heading into the matchup against Notre Dame, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum took a shot at the Buckeyes while praising Notre Dame.
“I love Notre Dame’s story because they’re not playing for the national championship with Ole Miss‘ running back and Alabama‘s defensive back," Finebaum said on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning”. "I mean, they (Notre Dame) have developed players. They’ve gone out and brought in players from Duke and other schools, just like Indiana did, but ultimately they found a way and they beat some good programs along the way.”
Finebaum is going to have to get used to teams making runs with transfer portal players. Every team in the College Football Playoff had a transfer portal player that made an impact. Ohio State being looked at differently for landing two of the better players is a bit weird.
Caleb Downs was the top player in the portal last year and never would have been there if Nick Saban hadn’t retired from Alabama. Ohio State made a real run at Downs out of high school and was seen as the runner-up. When he entered the portal, Ohio State had a prior relationship and it worked out.
Judkins on the other hand came to Columbus knowing he would have a lesser role than he did at Ole Miss where he racked up north of 2,000 yards in two seasons. Ohio State’s leading rusher is still TreVeyon Henderson, who they recruited out of high school and has been in the program for four years.
Notre Dame is a good team that has players from other schools as well. Just because Riley Leonard came from Duke over Alabama shouldn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. Beaux Collins is a top wideout for the Fighting Irish and he came over from Clemson.
This comment from Finebaum won’t sit well with OSU fans and it shouldn’t. Yes, Ohio State paid a ton of money to build this roster. That is what you have to do in today's age of college football. If you don’t do that, you will be left behind.
Notre Dame and the Buckeyes will battle it out on Jan. 20 and it will be a battle between two teams with players from the portal.
