Paul Finebaum’s ESPN appearances sparked speculation this week after reports claimed he’d been sidelined following his comments about a potential U.S. Senate run.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Finebaum has not appeared on ESPN-branded networks recently, skipping his usual Sunday morning “SportsCenter” segment. However, ESPN quickly pushed back on the rumor.
A network spokesperson told OutKick that the report of Finebaum being banned was “TOTALLY FALSE.” They noted that while he wasn’t on “SportsCenter,” he did appear on ESPN host Matt Barrie’s YouTube show over the weekend.
Sports Business Journal also confirmed there’s no ban in place, adding that Finebaum is scheduled to appear on ESPN’s “First Take” on Tuesday as planned.
The veteran broadcaster continues to host his daily four-hour program on the SEC Network — which is owned by ESPN — and was on-site in Gainesville over the weekend for the network’s college football pregame show.
The 70-year-old radio icon stirred headlines last week when he told OutKick he’s considering a run for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2026 as a Republican. The seat is currently held by former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville, who plans to run for governor.
Finebaum said the idea came after being approached by a figure in Alabama politics. “This person, obviously who shall remain nameless, was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about it,” he said.
Finebaum joined ESPN in 2014 when the SEC Network launched, building on his decades-long career as one of the most influential voices in college football.