As they always say, the enemy of Notre Dame's enemy is Notre Dame's friend. Even knowing that, it's quite shocking that ESPN personality Paul Finebaum is now a friend of the Fighting Irish as he becomes an enemy of the AP Top 25 poll.
Earlier this week, the first official AP poll of the season was released, ranking the Irish No. 4 in the nation. When Finebaum was asked for his thoughts, it's likely everyone believed he would rage about the ease of the Golden Dome's schedule and talk about how they don't play anyone. Considering the number of times Finebaum has claimed the Irish get an unfair bias, what came out of his mouth almost certainly stunned any ND backers who tuned into First Take.
Notre Dame football gets No. 2 push from Paul Finebaum despite opening No. 4 in AP Top 25
"I think Notre Dame is really too low at number four," Finebaum began, already raising eyebrows all over South Bend. "I know some people will jump up and say, well, that's not such a big deal, but I think Notre Dame and Oregon are really 1A and 1B."
TRENDING: Paul Finebaum was asked on First Take what his biggest gripe with the AP Top 25 was and his response was:
— Ryan Fravel (@Fravel_Ryan) August 19, 2026
"I think Notre Dame is really too low at #4...I think Notre Dame & Oregon are really 1A & 1B"
One of Notre Dame's biggest haters is now saying Notre Dame is a Top… pic.twitter.com/TClDuljw0U
Obviously, the AP Top 25 can't have a 1A and a 1B, but what Finebaum did want to see was the Irish at No. 2 in the country. That's also not a huge jump from where they are, but it could mean the difference between getting a first-round bye or not when the season winds down and the College Football Playoff starts.Â
It's one of those takes that is definitely going against the grain, considering that one analyst after another has once again started the drumbeat of how Notre Dame should join a conference if they want to be given the respect they deserve. Finebaum has taken a long look at the talent on the roster and understands that even with a tougher schedule, they'd be considered one of the most talented teams in the country.
It's hard to fathom Notre Dame football fans actually liking something that Paul Finebaum says on ESPN. He's spent most of his career as an SEC homer of the first order. He certainly wasn't on the side of the Fighting Irish when they were snubbed by the College Football Playoff Committee last fall. This is definitely a situation of having strange bedfellows.Â
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