OU Fans Hail Paul Finebaum as Hero After Brutal Takedown of Lincoln Riley: “He Ran, Lied, and Abandoned Oklahoma”

In an unexpected twist that set college football message boards ablaze, SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum is now being celebrated as a folk hero among Oklahoma fans. The always outspoken and occasionally controversial voice of Southern football earned high praise in Norman after his sharp criticism of former Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley during a recent radio segment that quickly went viral.

For a fanbase that has carried the sting of Riley’s sudden departure to USC for nearly three years, Finebaum’s takedown felt like long-awaited public vindication. The man who once seemed indifferent to Big 12 issues has become — at least temporarily — an adopted son of Sooner Nation.

The Rant That Sparked It All

Appearing on the Paul Finebaum Show, the veteran host didn’t hold back when a caller asked about the legacy of Lincoln Riley, particularly in light of his struggles at USC. Finebaum, with trademark Southern bluntness, torched the former OU coach for what he called “one of the most cowardly exits in modern college football history.”

“He ran from the SEC smoke,” Finebaum declared. “He knew the challenge that was coming. He knew he wasn’t built for it. So instead of embracing the moment and leading Oklahoma into a new era, he packed his bags for Hollywood and left the program — and its fans — holding the bag.”

Finebaum went even further, questioning Riley’s integrity and leadership. “He didn’t just leave,” he said. “He lied to everyone right up until the moment he disappeared into the California sunset. Coaches leave all the time. But what Riley did? That was betrayal.”

Within hours, the clip had gone viral across social media platforms, with OU fans reposting, retweeting, and quote-liking the segment en masse. The sentiment was nearly universal: Paul Finebaum, longtime SEC provocateur, had finally spoken the truth that Sooner fans had been shouting for years.

“He Said What We’ve Felt Since 2021”

Lincoln Riley’s midnight exit from Oklahoma in November 2021 caught almost everyone off guard. One moment he was denying rumors of a move to LSU, and the next he was boarding a private jet to Los Angeles. The abruptness, combined with the exodus of key recruits and players who followed him to USC, left OU fans furious — and feeling abandoned.

“It wasn’t just that he left,” said lifelong Sooners fan Travis Haynes of Moore, Oklahoma. “It’s how he left. The sneaking, the denial, the betrayal of trust. Finebaum just put into words what we’ve all felt for years. That man ran.”

Indeed, Riley’s departure marked a turning point for Oklahoma football. The transition to Brent Venables ushered in a new identity — more physical, more SEC-ready — but also came with growing pains. OU missed the Big 12 title game in back-to-back seasons for the first time in nearly a decade. Meanwhile, Riley’s tenure at USC began with hype, but has since sputtered amid defensive collapses and unmet expectations.

OU fans, many of whom have remained bitter toward Riley, saw Finebaum’s commentary not just as catharsis but as national acknowledgment that they had been wronged.

“It felt like validation,” said Emily Parker, an Oklahoma alum and season ticket holder. “For so long it felt like the national media just let Riley off the hook. But now even Paul Finebaum is calling it what it is: a betrayal.”

Finebaum, the Unlikely Sooner Hero

To be clear, Paul Finebaum has never been viewed as a friend of Oklahoma. In fact, many Sooner fans have long resented his SEC-centric coverage and what they perceived as dismissiveness toward the Big 12. That’s what makes this turn of events so surprising — and so satisfying.

On message boards like SoonerScoop and Reddit’s r/CFB, fans jokingly dubbed Finebaum “Saint Paul of Tuscaloosa” and created memes of him wearing crimson and cream robes. Some even suggested inviting him to the annual spring game as a guest of honor.

“Never thought I’d say this,” one user posted, “but Finebaum gets it. He finally gets us.”

The reaction from USC fans, of course, was predictably defensive. Several Trojan faithful accused Finebaum of pandering to the SEC narrative, conveniently ignoring Riley’s conference title at Oklahoma and early success with USC in 2022. But for Sooner fans, that only added to the satisfaction.

“He can’t hide behind USC anymore,” Parker said. “He’s getting exposed, and now everyone’s noticing.”

Brent Venables Era Shaped by Riley’s Exit

It’s impossible to discuss Oklahoma’s current trajectory without revisiting the circumstances of Riley’s exit. Brent Venables, a longtime defensive coordinator under Bob Stoops and Dabo Swinney, inherited a program that was simultaneously elite in brand and shaky in identity.

From day one, Venables made it clear that Oklahoma was going to be different — tougher, more accountable, more SEC-minded. The rebuilding process was rocky at first, including a 6–7 record in 2022, but signs of growth began to emerge in 2023 and continued into 2024.

Venables, unlike Riley, hasn’t relied solely on five-star flash. He’s built his roster with an emphasis on defense, depth, and culture. And while some fans were initially skeptical, the recent recruiting success and defensive improvement have many feeling optimistic.

Finebaum even acknowledged this during his viral takedown. “Say what you want about Brent Venables, but he didn’t run. He walked into the fire and is building something sustainable.”

That line resonated deeply with Sooner Nation.

A Lingering Legacy

Despite moving halfway across the country, Lincoln Riley’s shadow still looms over Norman. Whether it’s in recruiting battles, playoff debates, or media narratives, his name remains synonymous with a chapter that ended in heartbreak.

But in a strange way, the sting of Riley’s departure may have helped galvanize the program and its fans. The anger turned into motivation. The betrayal turned into a renewed focus on loyalty, toughness, and grit.

That’s why Finebaum’s remarks hit so hard — and meant so much.

“He gave voice to a wound that’s still healing,” Haynes said. “And in doing so, he reminded the rest of the country that Oklahoma didn’t collapse when Riley left. We’re still here. We’re still fighting.”

What It Means Moving Forward

As Oklahoma prepares to enter the SEC full-time, the Riley saga serves as both a cautionary tale and a rallying cry. It’s a reminder of what was lost — but also what’s now being rebuilt.

Fans have found closure not in Riley’s failures at USC, but in the way the national conversation is beginning to shift. The narrative is no longer about what Oklahoma lost, but about what it’s becoming under Venables.

Finebaum’s viral critique may have simply accelerated that shift.

“We’re not victims anymore,” Parker said. “We’re contenders. And it feels like the rest of the country is finally starting to see it.”

In a sport dominated by loyalty, passion, and memory, few stories endure like that of Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners. But thanks to Paul Finebaum’s unexpected outburst, the healing process in Norman may have taken a big step forward.

For Sooner fans, it wasn’t just a media moment — it was justice. And in that moment, a man who was once a thorn in Oklahoma’s side became something else entirely:

A hero.