ESPN, and Disney, faced accusations that it pulled analyst Paul Finebaum off the air after expressing interest in running for Senate in Alabama as a Republican candidate. “Per sources: Disney/ESPN has removed @finebaum from appearing on @ESPN since his @outkick interview expressing interest in running as a Republican for senate in Alabama. ESPN has canceled all network appearances on all shows, including some that have occurred for a decade plus,” OutKick founder Clay Travis said. Per sources: Disney/ESPN has removed @finebaum from appearing on @ESPN since his @outkick interview expressing interest in running as a Republican for senate in Alabama. ESPN has canceled all network appearances on all shows, including some that have occurred for a decade plus. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 6, 2025 “Finebaum is not an announced candidate for Alabama senate yet. ESPN’s @stephenasmith has discussed running for president as a Democrat and the network has taken no action in this matter. @outkick has requested comment from @espn @Disney and a story will be forthcoming on site,” Travis continued. “The decision to pull @finebaum from @espn also follows the recent @jimmykimmel controversy on Disney owned ABC. Kimmel was returned to air after a four day suspension. The left wing rallied around Kimmel’s free speech rights in that case. Will they rally for @finebaum as well?” he added. The decision to pull @finebaum from @espn also follows the recent @jimmykimmel controversy on Disney owned ABC. Kimmel was returned to air after a four day suspension. The left wing rallied around Kimmel’s free speech rights in that case. Will they rally for @finebaum as well? — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 6, 2025 USA TODAY shared: Finebaum, a staple of the SEC and broader college football world for decades, has been with ESPN since 2014. In recent years, he has frequently appeared on ESPN’s biggest shows — “SportsCenter,” “First Take” and “Get Up” — to discuss the biggest stories in college football. He’s not the first ESPN personality to hint at a run for public office. For much of the past 11 months since the 2024 presidential election, Stephen A. Smith, perhaps the network’s most prominent figure, has openly discussed a possible presidential run in 2028 and has continued to appear on ESPN shows. Though he has been doing his radio show in Charlotte, North Carolina for much of his time at ESPN, Finebaum’s roots as a reporter and media personality are in Birmingham, Alabama, where his show and its legendary cast of regular callers became synonymous with the passion and mania that surrounds SEC football. Finebaum told Travis he had been registered as a Republican in North Carolina, but he had recently moved back to Alabama and was planning on re-registering as a voter there. An ESPN spokesperson said the allegation is “TOTALLY FALSE.” “This is not true at all. The below is TOTALLY FALSE,” Bill Hofheimer said. This is not true at all. The below is TOTALLY FALSE. https://t.co/nmnBA9mj13 — bill hofheimer (@bhofheimer_espn) October 6, 2025 “LOL. This decision is above your pay grade, Bill. Why wasn’t @finebaum on Sunday AM SportsCenter yesterday? Or First Take this morning? For the first time in over a decade? Reacting to one of the biggest college football weekends of the year? I stand by my sources,” Travis responded. LOL. This decision is above your pay grade, Bill. Why wasn’t @finebaum on Sunday AM SportsCenter yesterday? Or First Take this morning? For the first time in over a decade? Reacting to one of the biggest college football weekends of the year? I stand by my sources. https://t.co/ZJ1Z65mJG9 — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 6, 2025 “Bill is lying to all of you. Shame on Bill. Here is the full @finebaum interview that led to @espn canceling his on air appearances. Good watch. Check it out,” Travis said. Bill is lying to all of you. Shame on Bill. Here is the full @finebaum interview that led to @espn canceling his on air appearances. Good watch. Check it out. https://t.co/W6z4MqMUDy — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 6, 2025 “An ESPN source is saying that Finebaum is booked for Tuesday’s First Take. However, OutKick has spoken to a source with knowledge of Finebaum’s schedule that says he is not booked on tomorrow’s show. A First Take producer also declined to say if Finebaum was booked on the show,” OutKick reporter Dan Zaksheske said. An ESPN source is saying that Finebaum is booked for Tuesday's First Take. However, OutKick has spoken to a source with knowledge of Finebaum's schedule that says he is not booked on tomorrow's show. A First Take producer also declined to say if Finebaum was booked on the show. https://t.co/3IgMuKyste — Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) October 6, 2025 “As of the present moment, per sources, @finebaum has still not been asked to appear on First Take tomorrow morning. @espn is a complete dumpster fire. You guys even lie like s*** @bhofheimer_espn @RobertIger. Just admit what you did and stop telling bad lies,” Travis commented. As of the present moment, per sources, @finebaum has still not been asked to appear on First Take tomorrow morning. @espn is a complete dumpster fire. You guys even lie like shit @bhofheimer_espn @RobertIger. Just admit what you did and stop telling bad lies. — Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 6, 2025 More from the New York Post: Finebaum did appear on SEC Network this weekend on “SEC Nation,” and his “Paul Finebaum Show” ran as usual last week after the interview made headlines. Travis claims, though, that Finebaum has not appeared on “SportsCenter,” “First Take” or “Get Up” since last Wednesday. Finebaum had previously been scheduled to appear on “First Take” this Tuesday and “SportsCenter” on Saturday, and that has not changed, a source told The Post. ESPN is experimenting with other college football analysts in new spots, in case Finebaum does leave the network for a Senate run. Finebaum had previously said the assassination of Charlie Kirk fueled his desire to enter the political realm and that a few people in Washington asked to gauge his interest in running.