Berry Tramel Show: Is OU ready for the SEC? Paul Finebaum says it wasn't two years ago, but is now

With Oklahoma and Texas set to officially join the SEC on July 1, ESPN and SEC Network commentator Paul Finebaum joins the first Berry Tramel Show with the Tulsa World to discuss the Sooners’ and Longhorns’ move into the SEC in what Finebaum says is the “biggest moment in the history of the league.”

[@tulsaworld]

See more content from Tulsa World sports columnist Berry Tramel here: tulsaworld.com/users/profile/berry%20tramel/

[@baselt6552]

Barry Trammel is a legendary journalist. Followed him since 1992

[@mitchellbatchelor1594]

Welcome to the SEC. Looking forward to great matchups. Roll Tide.

[@mitchconner2021]

Id like to see OU play Arkansas each year. They are closer to Norman than Austin yet those teams have hardly played each other.

[@druidcraft918]

Give it 5 years and it will be a fun rivalry. I went to school at NSU in Tahlequah OK, only about 45 minutes from Fayetteville. Arkansas fans need a close rival in conference their fans can travel for realistically. Norman fits the bill. Given, the programs aren't equal, but a healthy rivalry can equal a playing field

[@OspreyFlyer]

​@@druidcraft918I went to NSU and OU. 👍

[@druidcraft918]

@@OspreyFlyer hell ya! There is always a riverhawk to be spotted somewhere 😉

[@lornesguitarcompany6504]

As a Sooner fan who has lived in Northwest Arkansas for over 20 years, this day couldn't come soon enough. Lots of trash talk for teams that have only met on the gridiron 3 times in 50 years. Now, there are no more hypotheticals. No more, "well if OU was in the SEC or if Arkansas was in the Big XII." Now we'll get to settle it on the field... well next year.

[@CiviTac]

OU and Tennessee are the two teams that could be really really really good or have 4 losses. I’ll be watching them both closely this year

[@soonerborn6694]

Fantastic interview / conversation between two greats in college sports journalism. Never a fan of Finebaum bias before two years ago, but Oklahoma will be the Big Bad Wolf again, and he kind of sees that as realistic possibility in his answers. That said, he’s always leaves room for an out with his position with each topic / question. He does grasp the bigger picture faster than most IMHO. Ready to hear OU fans chant “SEC” soon. It does mean more as Dean B. has said recently.

[@billpatterson6249]

Berry you do an exceptional job interviewing guests.

[@ROUGHNECK75]

That's a lie

[@johnknapper1614]

Great interview Barry. And Paul Finebaum gave insightful candid answers. Nice work!!

[@ROUGHNECK75]

🤡

[@patrickwelch1010]

What makes Paul Finebaum qualified to comment on Football ?

[@HTHAMMACK1]

Have you heard former players comment on Football? Some of the dumbest commentary on football I've ever heard is from former players. Having played football doesn't necessarily make you qualified to comment on it. I'm not a huge Finebaum fan. However, he's a journalist who has covered the SEC for decades. That alone makes him qualified. He has the same qualifications as Berry Tramel.

[@caljerm]

It's the ears man 👂👂

[@jasonwalters5478]

According to Finebaum only 4 SEC teams make the playoff... Georgia, Alabama, Texas and LSU. Ridiculous!

[@ccpbux]

Razorback fan here: You will quickly learn that Finebaum is a biased clown. I wish these so called sports journalists would do their homework on teams like OU. I mean, damn, Bama is the only SEC team with more Natty’s than the Sooners. OU is more than ready, I can guarantee that! Lol

[@HTHAMMACK1]

What's so ridiculous about that?

[@leemontgomery7914]

Good job, Barry.👍🏾

[@pwho405]

Man how many times is this gonna be a question sheesh.

[@chrisnipper8573]

Thank you Sir for mentioning Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma in a bad spot and Mr. Venerables took over and did an Excellent job and Riley is in a dumster fire

[@davedodson8175]

I've always loved your content!

[@dougfarrer1693]

Good interview

[@robertadams8548]

Tramel has never been a Reliable source of knowledgable information about OU when at the DOK. Hope his Performance and Transparency has improved. He always left the Impression that his Job was to run cover for BS & the President, not writing articles that were Transparent on what happened in the game that just happened the day before. Good Luck to Him, hope he's become better at his job because a majority of older fans always saw a different game than he writes about. No Objective writing, but he's not alone in the OKC media.

[@robertbutler3053]

Okla will kick some ass in the SEC. Alabama will struggle in the next few years.😮😮😮😮

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

uo will get their ASS KICKED 1st year in the SEC. If that's your take on bama you have NO clue about college football. NOT in the SEC anyway.

[@443designs]

I was interested in this up until the point Paul stated TAMU is UT's #1 Rival.

[@idealsmithreeves7392]

I have almost every ou program from 1949 to 1980. Including 1956 and 57 ou notre dame. One is from south bend. The 57 still has the tickets stapled inside. My wife threw my game of the century program 1971 ou Nebraska, and a 1949 program autographed by Barry switzer, in the pool. Trust me that wasn't the last thing to hit the pool.😬

[@dalpoas83]

He would be right. We were 6-7 in the big 12 two years ago. We had to do a little rebuilding but I also believe OU is ready

[@eightyproofsk8er]

I think we should get a pass for that year one BV because TBOW guting the entire program.

[@TechnoGuy11]

I think OU could win 9 and with that schedule, I think 9 gets you in the playoff this year.

[@dwightanderson8331]

It's not like they've never played SEC teams before.

[@zackschooley5858]

OU better be ready. Every weekend is a slobber knocker. 😂 Arkansas left the Southwest conference because everything that Texas touches dies. Ask the big 12

[@U.S.Male1]

The Tulsey Whirled, Barry the Fairy, and Paul Turdball... what a trio. BOOMER!

[@RonaldDub60]

🙆🏻‍♀️🤷‍♀️ SOONER!

[@reneru]

UGA is 1-4 against Texas all time. Texas has a winning record against all SEC teams except Vandy and South Carolina...go figure. Texas will dominate the SEC. Every team Texas plays is that teams biggest game. Texas Tech, Oklahoma, TCU, Baylor, Oklahoma State, all of them...Texas is used to being everyones biggest game.

[@rickrhoden1]

PineBum has a thing against Kiffin, exemplified by his needless direct cuts. Possibly his Tennessee roots are showing.

[@jwcrunch]

C'mon Paul you are struggling with that question about Texas... don't blame Texas's fans... You are better than that 🫵

[@voiceofreason2674]

Texas has the talent to Win the SEC , but their history of dysfunction there will be some very bad fluke years. OU on the other hand, i think theyve signed their own death warrant. They were the big dawgs in the Big 12 and enjoyed the fruits of basically going undefeated in that league every year. In the SEC provided they aren't handed extremely favorable schedules, i predict theyll go around .500 in league play

[@jeffbentley8666]

Yes PERIOD

[@KB3TLE]

I don't like it ! --- SEC was fine the way it was.

[@winnemucca-sk5392]

a nine game conference schedule is brutal. much more interesting to watch but teams will be hesitant to schedule good non conference games.

[@cacogenicist]

9 conference game schedule is _normal_

[@brianbiswell7591]

Only playing 8 sec games this year though. Don't think they have decided on 8 or 9 conf games yet either for next year.

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

@@brianbiswell7591 TV people need to cough up more money for SEC to go to 9 conference game schedule.

[@collegebro85]

Texas and OWho were playing 9 conference games for the past decade, which is why the Little12 often cannabilized itself from having the success that SEC did…

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

@@collegebro85 That SEC is all about winning he natty. SEC took care of business when given the opportunity. More than I can say about any xii team was able to do. Number of conference games don't matter.

[@user-jf8oc3ri2q]

The Oklahoma Squatters 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

More like oklahoma cheaters. They started the race before the starting flag went down.

[@cacogenicist]

Finebaum spouts damn nonsense these days -- e.g., saying rhe B1G wouldn't nbe interested in Florida State because of academics. Lol. The guy is getting loopy.

[@Tijuanabill]

Oh, I don't know. The folks running the Big 10 are pretty loopy, and their fans say that academic stuff really matters to them. They are still mad about Nebraska losing their AAU status.

[@michaelhart6318]

Big 10 will not accept non-AAU Florida State or Clemson

[@derrickfreeman128]

Mizzou and A&M exceeded expectations when they first came into the SEC…but no one remembers…Boomer!!!

[@ricksaunders8074]

I can't stand Paul Finebaum What a Bama homer OU and Texas will be just fine

[@budbundy4014]

At least Texas will be ok

[@JetplaneVOL]

Of course finebaum doesn’t like kiffin 😂

[@jeffreymcdowell7189]

The only good news for them is that Saban retired

[@hulksmash4316]

Hell yea. Oklahoma hooks the horns rolls the tide and has the eye of the tiger. We got a bone to pick with Georgia and Florida… hit em with a gator roll🤙. Boomer fuckin Sooner!!

[@jwcrunch]

Why are y'all so f-ing crazy in Oklahoma ?

[@jahnvantuttlesma8215]

@@jwcrunch And some people say that OU isn't SEC ready? smh

[@budbundy4014]

Y’all suck and should have stayed in the big 12

[@budbundy4014]

@@jahnvantuttlesma8215you were third in the big 12 last year. Your not sec ready

[@jahnvantuttlesma8215]

@@budbundy4014 I'm talking about the fans, but the football team will be fine.

[@blackant51]

The amount of disrespect as if we are the little sisters of the poor..😂😂😂😂

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

Earn it dude. Nothing given in the SEC. On the national scene texass and uo aint nothing special. At least in winning titles anyway.

[@ShaneBabb]

All I got to say is I love being the little sister, if that what you want to call it. Doubting my team will put a fire under their arse and the SEC will wish they'd never done it. They will wish they'd paid more attention to Big 12 play because those conference championships weren't easy. We had Nebraska, A&M and Mizzou for some of those championships. I would say if that's their point of view or perspective, then they don't know Oklahoma at all. They haven't gotten a real taste yet. But we have no problem earning it, proving it or any other thing you want to put in front of it. If you see an O-Line protecting our QB and giving him time early in the season to do what we recruited him to do, then you better get use to clamping them butt cheeks and swollowing your chew, because we only get better as we go along. Boomer!

[@John-ls2gp]

Lane is a jerk.

[@rickrhoden1]

You know Kiffin from a close, personal relationship, John-ls, Tennessee guy?

[@derrickfreeman128]

Let’s be honest, Brent made Clemson a SEC defense…now adding a Baylor type offense is the perfect balance for today’s game of football…Boomer!!!

[@petewilcox3354]

lol...more like is the $EC ready for OU?? teams like South Carolina, Florida, TENN, Mizzou, Miss State, LSU etc, all have to be prepared for the possibily of an extra loss, due to the simple fact, the conference is knee deep in bluebloods.

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

ALL those SEC teams you mentioned are used to playing top shelf talent every week in conference. uo NOT so much. sooners have played TWO top 10 regular season opponents in the last SIX seasons. You got FOUR coming your way year ONE in SEC. Two more knocking on top 10 door. Both in every top 15 of all these preseason rankings.

[@Tijuanabill]

@@user-xp6qd4sk1j Correction: Those teams are used to LOSING to top shelf talent every week in conference.

[@user-jf8oc3ri2q]

Lol . Tennessee was blue blood before Oklahoma 😅😅😅 You don’t have the money Tennessee has or LSU for that matter. Get ready for hell boy 😂😂😂

[@user-jf8oc3ri2q]

@@user-xp6qd4sk1j They have no idea 😂😂😂

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

@@Tijuanabill That's why this century SEC has FOUR different teams win MULTI national titles and a couple more with one.

[@ComoSOONER]

Lol, soft shot at TBOW, "they weren't ready 2 yrs ago"

[@savagesooner4891]

Texas and Oklahoma will be fine going forward. Just an extra loss for their opponents this season. Not too bad.

[@lazyakers]

PSA to Oklahoma fans: you’re not bringing your cohort of pedestrian programs with you. I’m referring mostly to the Kansas schools, Iowa state and Okie state. Although, you could also lump Baylor and Texas tech into that group. In a normal year, those would be 5 or 6 wins every single year. None of those schools are coming with you.

[@DigitalChillz]

agreed but i would put K-state up against ole miss any day tbh..there are similar traits to the leagues just way better talent. Now we shall all eat!

[@williamcrowder2226]

@@DigitalChillz You would put up KS up against Ole Miss any day? Ive seen KS lose to KU in front of 7500 people. I am not sure I agree.

[@collegebro85]

Don’t get it twisted as if a Vandy, Miss St, Arkansas, Kentucky, or Florida are “so much better”…no one is scared to play those guys every year 🤘🏼🤨🤘🏼

[@lazyakers]

@@collegebro85 the point is, every one of those teams you mentioned (except Vandy) can bite the Sooners in the ass if OU doesn’t show up and play well.

[@Ananias03]

Yep they have a real schedule to play now instead of all those cupcakes.

[@Bill.G]

Mr. Potato Head is just a know-nothing ESPN mouthpiece.

[@DonehogawaSeneca-z3z]

😄

[@russelleads2145]

Lol, Texas and Oklahoma will not dominate the SEC like they did the Big X12. So, get used to that!!

[@joshmorgan1887]

I agree but Oklahoma dominated the big 12 not Texas lol …but I do believe Texas an Oklahoma will be fine an be one of the top 5 teams in sec every year ..but yes they won’t dominate like the big 12 , not with Georgia an Bama in the sec …but Texas or Oklahoma have enough talent to win the sec an will beat down on the mediocre sec teams like Arkansas, miss st, vandy , Kentucky etc.

[@CiviTac]

@@joshmorgan1887the Alabama program will be interesting to see how it plays out. Kirby Smart has the ability to be the new Saban for UGA. Bama without Saban intrigues me long term.

[@user-xp6qd4sk1j]

@@joshmorgan1887 sooners haven't played in CCG last three seasons. Doesn't sound like uo was that dominant lately.

[@joshmorgan1887]

@@user-xp6qd4sk1j last 3 years? U don’t go back 3 years to see dominance! SMH they were goin through coaching change ..look at last 20 years an tell me who has been winning big 12 the most ? So if bama wins natty 15 out of 20 years but hasn’t won in last 3 are u goin argue they haven’t dominated the ncaa football league? Think not mic 🎤

[@bryandoughty7291]

​@@joshmorgan1887hahaha that's a great comeback

[@Ananias03]

Until OU can make it through a season without losing to bottom dwellers they will be dominated in the SEC. OU is mid at best currently

[@Ananias03]

@AlexanderWinterborn for starters Alabama has more national championships than anyone. Especially OU. OU is not even close to Alabama level. Thing is all that history won't do OU any good in big boy conference. They still going to be mid in the SEC. Bv is trash. Yall lost to Kansas last season 🤣🤣 speaking of recruiting...Bama and GA been hauling in talent from your backyard for over a decade now

[@stasonsteagall356]

​@__B--MAN__ I read your comment there. You do realize Texas beat yalls ass in Tuscaloosa last season right? Double digits even. Okay, we beat the team that beat yalls asses. Everyone is right about not losing games you shouldn't, I'll own up to that. You would be sadly mistaken to think your team is gonna play Oklahoma and get a easy win. Ain't nothing mid about us, you'll see.

[@Ananias03]

@@stasonsteagall356 Just because TX beat AL is doesn't mean OU can just because they beat TX. Thats what's called "transitive property" Until i see OU live up to the hype i am certain im gonna sing Rammer Jammer in Norman this season.They are very mid with the current coaching staff. Like A&M OU can recruit but can't do anything with it. LOL

[@stasonsteagall356]

@@Ananias03 you're right, it don't mean we're gonna win against alabama, we fully understand that. We'd never underestimate alabama or call them mid. Believe me when I tell ya, we are honored and excited to play alabama. BOOMER!

[@user-jf8oc3ri2q]

Oklahoma is gonna be another Arkansas in the SEC😂😂 Like Nebraska in the big 10 . No more cake walk like the last 100 years 😂😂 That’s OVER

[@joshmorgan1887]

@@user-jf8oc3ri2q are u slow ? Arkansas gets maybe 3 Four stars a year an OU recruiting top 10 an top 5 classes these past 3 years ..u have to be slow

[@outnabout6966]

josh- user is so worried he soils his tidy-wietties 🦨👅

[@user-jf8oc3ri2q]

@@joshmorgan1887 Y’all to broke to keep up in the SEC 😂😂😂

[@user-jf8oc3ri2q]

@@joshmorgan1887 No more cupcake schedule like the last 100 years boy 😂 We don’t give a shit about your broke program 😂😂😂 You fixing to find out what big boy football is all about. EVERY WEEK 😂😂

[@MatthewMcCurtain-rn1sg]

Lay off the crack pipe