Paul Finebaum said Miami’s College Football Playoff victory over Texas A&M went far beyond the scoreboard, calling it a defining moment for the ACC and a direct blow to the SEC.
During an appearance on The Matt Barrie Show, Finebaum said Miami delivered the most significant result of the opening weekend, punctuated by a late interception that sealed the outcome against the Aggies.
“Where would it have been most difficult to win?” Finebaum said. “I’m really happy for Mario Cristobal. He’s taken some shots and made some terrible decisions … but he finally has that program where it should be.”
The win marked the first College Football Playoff victory in program history for the Miami Hurricanes, a long-awaited breakthrough for a brand that once defined the sport.
Miami last won a national championship in 2001 and Finebaum said the victory signaled a return to relevance under Cristobal. But the broader implications are notable. Finebaum called it “a monster win for the ACC,” which has faced sustained criticism in comparison to the SEC.
“It was a major shot to the SEC as well,” Finebaum said, noting the league was already guaranteed a loss elsewhere in the bracket. The defeat leaves the Texas A&M Aggies ending the season with consecutive losses, which is a finish Finebaum said will linger.
Only three SEC teams remain in the College Football Playoff field, with Ole Miss Rebels and Georgia Bulldogs set to eliminate one another in the quarterfinals. With Alabama Crimson Tide facing top-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, Finebaum said the door is open for yet another non-SEC national champion.
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