11-07-2025
Paul Finebaum Takes Subtle Shot at Clemson Ahead of LSU Showdown
Paul Finebaum Takes Subtle Shot at Clemson Ahead of LSU Showdown originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
ESPN's Paul Finebaum is known for his bold opinions that often spark controversy. He isn't hesitant to take jabs at conferences outside of the SEC.
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Referred to as the "Mouth of the South," Finebaum frequently targets other conferences to ignite discussion. Recently, he has focused on the Big Ten, particularly because a Big Ten team has won the last two national championships, arguably positioning the conference as the top in college football.
However, Finebaum has now shifted his attention to the ACC during his show, "The Paul Finebaum Show." He recently belittled the champions of the ACC from last season, the Clemson Tigers.
Clemson Tigers place kicker Nolan Hauser (81) makes a 56-yard field goal to win the ACC Championship game against the SMU Mustangs.© Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
"I think LSU could have probably made the playoffs in that league," Finebaum said.
Clemson made it to the College Football Playoff after narrowly escaping a significant lead in the ACC Championship Game against the SMU Mustangs. The Tigers were ahead 24-7 at halftime, but the Mustangs made a strong comeback and managed to tie the game at 31 with just 16 seconds left on the clock.
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Fortunately for Clemson, Adam Randall returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the Tigers' 45-yard line. Quarterback Cade Klubnik then connected with Antonio Williams for a 17-yard pass, leaving only three seconds remaining and setting up a 56-yard field goal attempt from SMU's 38-yard line. Kicker Nolan Hauser successfully made the field goal, clinching a 34-31 victory for Clemson and securing their automatic bid into the playoffs.
With a final record of 10-4, the Tigers had faced tough competition during the regular season. They suffered losses to the Georgia Bulldogs (34-3), Louisville Cardinals (33-21) and South Carolina Gamecocks (17-14), all of which were ranked No. 7, No. 12 and No. 15 by ESPN's FPI. That's not including the 38-24 loss to the Texas Longhorns in the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns were the No. 2 team in the FPI.
On the other hand, LSU finished the season with a 9-4 record. The Tigers faced defeats against the USC Trojans (27-20), Texas A&M Aggies (38-23), Alabama Crimson Tide (42-13) and Florida Gators (27-16), who were ranked No. 17, No. 16, No. 4 and No. 19, respectively.
It remains uncertain whether LSU would have achieved similar success to Clemson in 2024 had they been in the ACC instead of the SEC. Nevertheless, this topic makes for engaging discussions on the SEC Network.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names College Football Team That Will End Their Playoff Drought
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
