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

The ESPN college football personality offered his quick analysis of Notre Dame-Penn State and Ohio State-Texas.

The Crimson Tide fan base has come to expect championships, a standard set by legendary coach Nick Saban from 2007-2023. During that period, Alabama won six national championships and achieved 10 or more wins every year except for one. This year's 9-4 record marked the team's worst season since Saban's first year in 2007.

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 ).

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.

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.