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

This was the lowest number of wins Alabama had achieved in a season since 2007, the inaugural season under legendary head coach Nick Saban. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum noted that DeBoer has significant work ahead to turn things around. "I think that next year he has to change the direction," Finebaum said.

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.

One of Alabama's fiercest apologists over the course of this frustrating season has been ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum, but even he had to admit defeat after the loss to Michigan during an appearance on ESPN's Get Up, via Awful Announcing on X.

Ultimately, Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer, who had just led the Washington Huskies to the national championship game. Unfortunately, DeBoer's first season in Tuscaloosa did not go as planned. The Crimson Tide finished with their fewest wins since 2007, Saban's inaugural season.

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 ).