Paul Finebaum confesses to ‘epic failure’ after close of college football season

The veteran ESPN analyst walked back his season-long doubts, praising the undefeated national champions and admitting a significant error in judgment.

ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum accepted his slice of humble pie after the close of the 2025 season. | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

A historic college football campaign has concluded with a perfect 16-0 record and a national championship trophy for a program that had not tasted such glory in nearly 140 years. The unprecedented run shattered conference records and defied the expectations of prominent pundits who dismissed the team’s potential throughout the autumn months.

One specific voice from the Southeastern Conference’s premier network found himself at the center of this narrative after months of vocal skepticism regarding the program's legitimacy.

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum had spent the season questioning the team's schedule and the capabilities of its head coach. As the victories mounted and the accolades accumulated, the broadcasting veteran faced a reckoning regarding his previous assessments of the sport's competitive landscape. The conclusion of the playoff bracket forced a public re-evaluation of his commentary.

This shift in perspective arrived swiftly following the championship finale and a previous postseason victory over a traditional SEC powerhouse. The broadcaster took to the airwaves to offer a complete retraction of his earlier analysis. He labeled his season-long criticism as a significant professional shortcoming while offering earnest praise to the newly crowned champions.

Paul Finebaum admits he was wrong about Indiana football

Finebaum offered a full apology during his show to the Indiana Hoosiers following their national title victory. Indiana capped a fairy tale season by defeating Miami 27-21 in the championship game, a victory secured by the heroics of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. The quarterback’s determination was on full display during a critical fourth-quarter touchdown run where he went airborne to secure the lead.

Finebaum addressed his audience on The Paul Finebaum Show and admitted that his read on Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti was incorrect. He stated that while the debate regarding the statistical dominance of the season could continue, there was no questioning the narrative impact.

Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers won the College Football Playoff National Championship against the Miami Hurricanes on Monday. | Rich Janzaruk/Herald-Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"There can be debate on whether Indiana had the best season in college football history, but there can be no debate: It is the greatest story in the history of the game," Finebaum said. "And what made it even more amazing is how people misunderstood what Curt Cignetti was doing in Bloomington. Let me assure you, nobody was more incorrect in understanding that process than me."

The analyst went further by characterizing his own coverage as a mistake, specifically citing his season-long skepticism.

Thank you, @finebaum. Apology accepted. pic.twitter.com/YGob4MaScH

— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) January 21, 2026

"Almost everything I said throughout the season about him and about Indiana was wrong," Finebaum admitted. "And it was an epic failure on my part. There was no question Indiana was the best team. And yes, the Big Ten is the best conference in the country. We congratulate Coach Cignetti, Indiana, and the Big Ten for an extraordinary run."

The Big Ten Conference later acknowledged Finebaum's comments on social media, playfully accepting his apology and thanking him for the correction.