You can never accuse Paul Finebaum of never speaking his mind. Finebaum built his reputation on controversial takes, and the “Mouth of the South,” as some have called him in the past, went scorched earth on former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley.
Recently, on SEC host Dari Nowkhah Show Finebaum did not hide how he felt about the former Oklahoma head coach.
Finebaum labeled Riley a “fraud.”
“I can’t think of anyone whose coaching has been more fraudulent,” Finebaum said.
Riley has produced three Heisman winners and is considered by many as an offensive guru; however, at his stops at both OU and now USC, he’s yet to win a national championship or even lead them to the College Football Playoff.
USC has invested a lot of money into Riley, and although he’s won nearly 80 percent of his games, he is on the hot seat this season. Fox Sports college football analyst Joel Klatt thinks firing Riley right now would be a huge mistake.
“Let’s not be revisionist in our history,” Klatt said. “The first season Lincoln Riley was there, they were basically Caleb Williams having a leg injury away from going to the College Football Playoff in the four-team era. He won a Heisman Trophy.
Another reason USC may not dump Riley is that his payout is about $70 million.
“Riley’s buyout would be probably around 70 million,” Klatt said. “My suspicion is no (when asked by a fan if USC will fire Riley), and here’s why. He has a track record of success. You know he can do it.”
But can he? He’s yet to prove he can do anything but produce Heisman winners but not national champions. Riley was smart to get out of OU before they joined the SEC because his seat would be blazing right about now.
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Source link : https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/paul-finebaum-goes-scorched-earth-former-ou-coach/a7e147f289396f924bcb166e
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Publish date : 2025-07-23 00:58:00
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