ESPN's Paul Finebaum appears to have warmed up to the idea of the Big Ten being a premier football conference.

Under the leadership of Brent Venables, the Sooners entered a new era this season as they transitioned from the Big 12 to the SEC. Venables was hired in 2022 after Lincoln Riley left for the USC Trojans, with the goal of preparing the Sooners for this move. However, for the second time in his three seasons, Oklahoma finished with a losing record.

The semifinal round of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off on Thursday with Notre Dame vs. Penn State in the Orange Bowl followed by a clash between Ohio State and Texas in the Cotton Bowl Friday.

The Big Ten and SEC have played five head-to-head games during Bowl Season. The Big Ten is 4-1 in those contests, the only loss being Iowa ‘s 27-24 Music City Bowl loss to Missouri. The conference also boasts two CFP Semifinal participants ( Ohio State, Penn State) to the SEC’s one ( Texas ).

The Crimson Tide fan base has come to expect championships, a standard set by legendary coach Nick Saban from 2007-2023. During that period, Alabama won six national championships and achieved 10 or more wins every year except for one. This year's 9-4 record marked the team's worst season since Saban's first year in 2007.

Paul Finebaum compared current conversations around Georgia to another SEC powerhouse with high expectations. On Monday's McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, Finebaum addressed a perception that the SEC is no longer a dominant entity.