Yesterday, while listening to The Paul Finebaum Show, I couldn’t help but laugh — and shake my head — at the sheer obsession SEC fans have with hating on Notre Dame. It’s almost become a ritual. Every time the Irish start climbing the rankings, you can count on the Southern outrage machine firing up like it’s game day in Tuscaloosa.
Let’s be clear — Notre Dame deserves to be in the Top 10. This isn’t about hype or history; it’s about performance. The Irish have rattled off six straight wins and are playing some of the most complete football in the country. The idea that Miami should be ranked ahead of Notre Dame just because they won in Week 1 is pure blasphemy. Miami just lost to a 6-3 SMU team that hasn’t lived up to expectations, while Notre Dame continues to dominate and improve week after week.
Paul Finebaum hate and the Notre Dame football bias
And yes, Notre Dame’s other loss came against Texas A&M — arguably the best team in college football right now. Mike Elko has turned the Aggies into a powerhouse, and losing to an elite SEC squad like that doesn’t disqualify anyone from Top 10 contention. It proves Notre Dame has tested itself against the best, not padded stats with cupcakes.
But let’s talk about the real elephant in the room — Notre Dame’s record against the SEC. Historically, the Irish are 38–18 versus SEC opponents, with a 7–5 mark in postseason play. That’s not an anomaly — that’s dominance. The Irish have beaten Alabama (5–3 all-time), LSU, Florida, Tennessee, and yes, even the so-called “mighty” SEC powers that Finebaum’s callers worship. The only SEC program that truly has Notre Dame’s number is Georgia, with the Bulldogs holding a 3–0 advantage. After them, the only other team to give Notre Dame a hard time is Missouri — and even that’s a 2–2 split.
So when Finebaum’s callers run their mouths about how Notre Dame doesn’t belong, it’s clear most of them don’t know anything outside their own conference bubble. The SEC has great football — no one’s denying that — but history doesn’t lie. Notre Dame has stood toe-to-toe with the SEC for decades and usually walked away with the upper hand.
To Paul Finebaum and all his SEC faithful: keep the hate coming. It’s fuel. But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to focus a little less on hating greatness — and a little more on finding ways to beat us.