‘ESPN Has Lost Their Way,’ ‘Personal Vendetta’ — CFB Fans Call Out Paul Finebaum for Throwing Shade at LSU HC Lane Kiffin
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College football fans are calling out SEC football analyst Paul Finebaum for taking a shot at LSU head coach Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin has already brought plenty of attention to LSU early in his tenure, and Finebaum is no stranger to commenting on the polarizing head coach.
Gator Fans React to Paul Finebaum’s Lane Kiffin Comments
Finebaum called Kiffin a “zombie” after LSU lost to the Ole Miss Rebels last week. Today on ESPN’s “SEC Nation,” Finebaum again took aim at Kiffin, saying to Florida Gators fans, “You have no idea how lucky you are. You have Jon Sumrall and not Lane Kiffin.”
That definitely sounds like a direct shot at Kiffin, especially considering all the drama that has followed him throughout his coaching career. One fan took to Twitter and simply called it a “personal vendetta.” And honestly, it sure seems that way.
The Gators were in on Kiffin during the coaching carousel, and there was a reason for that. Kiffin has proven he can win, and he’s had decent success at several stops he’s made throughout his coaching career.
He also has NFL experience, which gives him an additional layer compared to many coaches in college football. So when you look at the situation from that angle, it’s easy to see why some Florida fans are questioning Finebaum’s comments about Kiffin.
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Another fan responded saying, “I’d rather have Kiffin than Sumrall, but I could be wrong. What am I missing here?”
This fan clearly seems to be in Kiffin’s corner. And when it comes to Kiffin, many people either love him or hate him. He knows how to bring attention to himself and his teams, but there’s also no denying his football knowledge, especially when it comes to offense.
In his last four seasons prior to going to LSU, he led elite offenses at Ole Miss with a PFN CFB Team Offense Impact Score within the top 20 and one top-10 finish.
A lot of people scrutinized Kiffin after LSU’s loss to Ole Miss a week ago, but a big part of that has to do with the storyline surrounding the game.
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One other fan said on Twitter, “I still would prefer Lane Kiffin. Wish we hired him after the 2024 season.”
Some fans clearly wish the Gators had pulled the trigger on Kiffin sooner, rather than giving former head coach Billy Napier one more chance heading into the 2025 season. That decision ultimately didn’t work out, as Florida fired Napier midway through the 2025 season after a 3-4 start.
Still, Jon Sumrall is a very good coach in his own right and shouldn’t be viewed as some kind of consolation prize. He has the Gators heading back in the right direction already, and the Gators crushed No. 4 Ole Miss on Saturday, 52-28, in a statement win for 4-0 Florida.
The Gators are led by star running back Jadan Baugh, who dominated against Ole Miss and entered the week with a 92.2 PFN CFB RB Impact Score that ranks fifth in the nation.
“Paul & Lane definitely MAKE MONEY OFF EACH OTHER… Media Wise,” one fan said.
Another fan added, “Where is the vitriol for this clown consistently talking about a head coach? ESPN has lost their way.”
Last week on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning,” Finebaum discussed Kiffin’s “I’m a human” speech after LSU lost to Ole Miss in Week 3.
“I mean, he is a human, but he’s also a con man, and so it’s always difficult to take his human reaction seriously because you know that underneath it, he’s got something deceitful going on,” Finebaum said. “And I just thought it was just a terrible night for him.”
The veteran analyst believes Kiffin got a reality check after the Ole Miss loss. However, Finebaum clearly does not expect the shenanigans around Kiffin to quiet down anytime soon.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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