ESPN's Paul Finebaum appears to have warmed up to the idea of the Big Ten being a premier football conference.

The semifinal round of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off on Thursday with Notre Dame vs. Penn State in the Orange Bowl followed by a clash between Ohio State and Texas in the Cotton Bowl Friday.

Under the leadership of Brent Venables, the Sooners entered a new era this season as they transitioned from the Big 12 to the SEC. Venables was hired in 2022 after Lincoln Riley left for the USC Trojans, with the goal of preparing the Sooners for this move. However, for the second time in his three seasons, Oklahoma finished with a losing record.

Paul Finebaum joins "SportsCenter" to preview the College Football Playoff semifinal matchups between Texas and Ohio State and Penn State and Notre Dame.

SMU Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings prepares for the snap during his team’s game against the Boston College Eagles at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Finebaum stated this change would remove teams he believes did not deserve a spot in the playoff, including the No. 11 SMU Mustangs (11-3). "SMU was a waste of time," Finebaum said.

Hoping to vie for a national championship, the University of Texas faces Ohio State Friday night in Arlington in the semifinal of the College Football Playoff. Why it matters: Win or lose, the Longhorns under head coach Steve Sarkisian are relevant once again.