“WE DON’T RUN FROM FINEBAUM. WE RUN THROUGH HIM.” — Coach Mike Elko Fires Back After ESPN Host’s Blistering Texas A&M Rant

COLLEGE STATION, TX — The dust of rivalry weekend had barely settled before Paul Finebaum, the ever-blunt voice of SEC commentary, launched what might be his boldest — and most brutal — attack yet on a major college football program.

Following Texas A&M’s 17–27 loss to the Texas Longhorns, Finebaum didn’t mince words during ESPN’s College Football Final.

“Texas A&M only knows how to bully weak teams,” he declared coldly.

“But the moment they face a real contender, they fold. That’s who they are — a program that talks big, racks up wins against lightweights, and collapses the second the competition gets serious.”

Within seconds, the temperature inside ESPN’s studio — and across the entire college football landscape — spiked.

FINEBAUM LIGHTS THE FUSE

The clip of Finebaum’s remarks went viral in minutes. Social media lit up with outrage, especially among the Aggie faithful, who accused the veteran analyst of delivering a cheap, agenda-driven attack aimed at riling up controversy after one of the sport’s most anticipated rivalry games.

One Aggie fan on X wrote:

“Finebaum stays waking up and choosing Texas A&M. This is personal.”

Another added:

“Criticism is fine. But calling us frauds after one loss? Lazy and biased.”

What made the backlash more intense was the timing. Texas A&M had just finished its first regular season under new head coach Mike Elko, whose steady leadership and no-nonsense approach had started winning over skeptics — until the disappointing defeat to Texas reopened old wounds.

But while the fanbase roared in defense, it was Elko’s calm — yet pointed — response that stopped the college football world in its tracks.

ELEVEN WORDS. A NEW ERA BEGINS.

Hours after Finebaum’s comments aired, the Texas A&M athletic department posted a short, seemingly innocuous video clip on social media.

No highlights. No locker room celebrations. Just Coach Mike Elko, standing at the practice field podium, arms crossed, eyes focused.

He leaned into the mic and said:

“We don’t run from Finebaum.

We run through him.”

Then he walked off.

No follow-up.

No explanation.

No spin.

It was one of the shortest press statements in recent memory — and easily one of the most powerful.

Within 20 minutes, the clip had over 3 million views.

THE REACTION: EXPLOSIVE

Social media exploded with reactions, many praising Elko’s direct and unapologetic tone. Fans and former players rallied behind him, resharing the clip with captions like:

• “Coach just bodied ESPN in under 10 seconds.”

  
  

• “Elko just went from coach to general.”

• “This is the Aggie era now. No apologies. No excuses.”

Even non-A&M fans admitted it was a legendary comeback.

“Finebaum poked the bear,” one Longhorns fan joked. “And the bear has a headset and a recruiting pipeline.”

FINEBAUM RESPONDS — SORT OF

To no one’s surprise, Paul Finebaum addressed the backlash the next morning on his SEC Network show.

“Look, I call it how I see it.

Texas A&M hasn’t beaten a top-tier SEC team this year.

Elko’s got every right to fire up his guys — but if he thinks they can run through me,

I suggest they start by running through Alabama, LSU, and Georgia.”

While Finebaum seemed unfazed, insiders at ESPN report that producers were caught off guard by just how viral — and one-sided — the response to Elko’s clapback became.

IS THIS A TURNING POINT FOR TEXAS A&M?

Under previous regimes, Texas A&M was often criticized for being reactionary, defensive, and image-obsessed. But Elko’s eleven-word statement marked a potential cultural shift: embracing fire without fear of backlash.

Former Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel chimed in:

“That’s how you lead a locker room.

You don’t play defense off the field. You swing back.”

Sports analysts noted that Elko’s choice of words — “run through him” — felt as much a challenge to his own team as it was a message to Finebaum. It wasn’t just about protecting the program’s image; it was about building an identity rooted in resilience and retaliation.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE AGGIES?

Texas A&M finishes the season at 8–4, with a respectable record but questions looming. Their recruiting class is strong, but fan expectations — and media scrutiny — are sky-high.

The Aggies will face a ranked opponent in their upcoming bowl game. Many now see that matchup as a proving ground for Elko and his players — a chance to answer Finebaum’s criticism not with words, but with a statement on the field.

FINAL THOUGHTS: WHEN TALK MEETS GRIT

In college football, talk is cheap. Rankings fade. Headlines vanish. But identity lasts.

When Paul Finebaum fired his shot, he expected the usual — silence, maybe a passive-aggressive tweet, or a dismissive press release.

What he got instead was a coach who looked straight into the storm and walked through it.

Eleven words.

No excuses.

And a program ready to prove it’s no longer running from anyone — least of all the noise.