If it’s true that Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule has a friendship with ESPN broadcaster Paul Finebaum, it seems theirs is a playful relationship filled with friendly teasing.
On Tuesday evening, Rhule took a clever jab at Finebaum, likely making him feel the sting whether he saw it or not. This kind of playful banter is becoming more common among college football coaches as they grow comfortable with social media. However, Rhule’s sharp quip was something that was hard to ignore.
So, what did Rhule do to roast Finebaum? He shared a short video that conveyed a clear message: “I was right, Paul, and you were wrong.”
The video began with a clip of Alan Jackson singing “remember when,” followed by a segment from earlier in the season where Rhule argued that the Big Ten deserved four playoff spots. Finebaum had criticized him at that time, advising him to “stay in your lane,” a dismissive remark that even some Nebraska players felt compelled to counter.
Fast forward to the new 12-team playoffs, and indeed, four Big Ten teams—Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, and Indiana—qualified. Three of those teams reached the semifinals, and the Buckeyes ultimately secured the championship on Monday night.
This context was why the rest of Rhule’s video featured a well-known scene from Spongebob where a French character says, “a few moments later.” The video concluded with Finebaum on ESPN admitting that the Big Ten, having won the National Title two years consecutively, now “owns” college football.
