Football, like many college sports, continues to undergo a metamorphosis of sorts. With each passing month, a new ruling or appeal continues to alter the face of college football, which has remained fundamentally unchanged for decades.
On top of that, with the intersection of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the sport shifts.
Now, with a recent development regarding eligibility, a new wrinkle has emerged. While some praise the move, the sport’s most vocal commentator provides his. He cites one particular person as the undisputed source of the issue.
Paul Finebaum Faults LSU’s Lane Kiffin for College Football Changes
Kiffin will be coaching in his first season as LSU’s head coach after a successful tenure at the University of Mississippi. However, that is not what Finebaum, a longtime ESPN commentator, holds against the coach.
He joined “First Take” to discuss the recent development of former Ole Miss tight end Dae’Quan Wright, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles.
After the Eagles released him, the Cleveland Browns claimed him before once again waiving Wright. After being released, Wright committed to LSU with a Louisiana court ruling issuing him an extra year of eligibility.
Finebaum did not mince words in criticizing the Tigers’ head coach.
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“It’s all about Lane Kiffin. No matter where he is in college football, norms get shattered.”@Finebaum reacts to Dae’Quan Wright joining LSU after being waived by the Browns 🏈 pic.twitter.com/XqUo8cm4bw
— First Take (@FirstTake) August 24, 2026
“It’s all about Lane Kiffin. No matter where he is in college football, norms get shattered and we all get gobsmacked in total,” the veteran media personality started. Yet, one of Finebaum’s clearest points had very little to do with Kiffin, citing another powerful football voice.
“Right now, everyone in the SEC isn’t waiting to hear what Lane Kiffin says or what the Cleveland Browns say. They are waiting to hear what the commissioner of the Southeastern Conference has to say, and so far, he hasn’t said anything,” Finebaum continued.
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He was, of course, referring to Greg Sankey, the conference’s commissioner, who has been accused of acting in the SEC’s best interests rather than those of college football. Finebaum cites a recent issue that could color Sankey’s approach.
“Remember the Sorsby situation about six or eight weeks ago. Everyone was outraged and finally the Big 12 came together and figured out a way out.”
Sorsby, the former Cincinnati quarterback who transferred to Texas Tech, was the center of a gambling scandal. Tech wanted him to play this season, fighting to overturn the NCAA ruling that he was ineligible. The other Big 12 schools stood in lockstep behind commissioner Brett Yormark, ready to fight TTU in court over the issue.
Sorsby and Tech eventually parted ways. Finebaum believes that could be the case with Wright, as all the SEC schools, with the exception of LSU, could be willing to prevent the tight end from rejoining the college football ranks.
