Latest news with #PaulFinebaum
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Didn't Hesitate When Naming His CFP National Championship Favorite
Paul Finebaum Didn't Hesitate When Naming His CFP National Championship Favorite originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As the college football offseason continues and games are less than two months away, high expectations are being thrown around for some of the top programs. Advertisement One of those teams is the Texas Longhorns, who came up just short of a national championship last season, falling to the Ohio State Buckeyes 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl semifinal. However, with quarterback Arch Manning set to take over, they have a real shot in 2025. On Wednesday's episode of ESPN's "Get Up," analyst Paul Finebaum was asked if the Longhorns are his favorites to win the national championship. "Absolutely,' Finebaum said. 'They have Arch Manning, in case you have not gotten that email from the front office, and he is expected to be better than Quinn Ewers... I think Arch Manning, had he come in during the Cotton Bowl, may have had a better shot, may have even beaten Ohio State, but he is going to be the leader of this team. They reloaded in the portal, to the tune of many millions and millions of dollars." Throughout the offseason, Texas was a big player in the transfer portal, recruiting a total of 11 commitments for a group that ranks No. 17 in the nation and No. 7 in the SEC. Advertisement They also have several key starters coming back, including cornerback Malik Muhammad, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. and EDGE Colin Simmons, who were all placed in College Football Network's list of top 100 returning players. Of course, to compete for a national championship, a Week 1 win would be huge, and they face a tough opponent in Ohio State, where ESPN BET already has the Longhorns as three-point underdogs. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16).Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images If Finebaum is correct, though, and Manning can lead Texas to a national championship win, it would be their fifth in program history and the first since 2005 when they defeated the USC Trojans 41-38 in the Rose Bowl. Advertisement Related: North Carolina Reacts to Retirement of Former Patriots Super Bowl Champion This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Drops Huge Endorsement on Texas Phenom Arch Manning
Paul Finebaum Drops Huge Endorsement on Texas Phenom Arch Manning originally appeared on Athlon Sports. College football analyst Paul Finebaum has ignited a firestorm of excitement among Texas Longhorns fans with a bold prediction about quarterback Arch Manning. Advertisement In a recent statement highlighted by Inside Texas on X, Finebaum declared, 'I think he's going to be the best quarterback at Texas since Colt McCoy.' The endorsement, paired with an image of Manning in a burnt orange shirt gripping a football, has sent ripples through the college football community as the young star continues to rise. Manning, a freshman sensation and scion of the legendary Manning family, has already shown flashes of brilliance. With 939 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, and a stellar 87.5 QBR, his stats speak volumes. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.© Brett Davis-Imagn Images His breakout performance against the UTSA Roadrunners—where he completed 9 of 12 passes, threw four touchdowns, and added a 67-yard rushing score—proved he's ready for the spotlight. Advertisement Finebaum's comparison to Colt McCoy, a Texas icon who led the Longhorns from 2006 to 2009 and ranks second all-time in FBS quarterback wins, sets a lofty benchmark for the young signal-caller. However, the statement has sparked debate. Some fans on X argue that Finebaum overlooks Quinn Ewers, who guided Texas to a 33-10 record over the last three seasons, including a 2023 Big 12 title and back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinals. Despite the skepticism, Manning's raw talent and pedigree suggest he could indeed redefine Texas football. As the Longhorns face tougher challenges ahead, all eyes will be on Manning to prove Finebaum right. Related: Former Longhorns Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth Vying for Win in Same Tournament This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Even Paul Finebaum Thinks Clemson Can Win It All—Yes, Really
No, this isn't an April Fool's joke, and no, you didn't accidentally click on The Onion. Paul Finebaum—the longtime SEC megaphone and frequent Clemson skeptic—just said something nice about the Tigers. Not just nice. Complimentary. Borderline glowing. Advertisement 'I think Clemson is in the national championship race,' Finebaum said this week on ESPN's McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning. For most programs, that wouldn't exactly move the needle. But for Clemson? Coming from Finebaum? That's headline material. This is the same Paul Finebaum who once questioned whether Dabo Swinney had staying power, mocked Clemson's early NIL philosophy, and all but rolled his eyes at talk of the Tigers as a modern dynasty. So to hear Finebaum include Clemson in his personal shortlist of 2025 title contenders? That's about as close to a public apology as you're going to get. Paul Finebaum© Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports Yes, Clemson has been trending upward since the back half of last season. Yes, the Tigers are coming off another College Football Playoff appearance. Yes, Cade Klubnik has developed into a legitimate Heisman contender, and the defense is absolutely loaded with elite talent like T.J. Parker and Peter Woods anchoring the front. Advertisement But none of that guarantees Paul Finebaum's endorsement. He's long preferred to keep the national spotlight glued to the SEC—Alabama, Georgia, LSU—while keeping Clemson in the 'let's see if they're for real' category. So this moment? It means something. Finebaum acknowledging Clemson as a real threat in 2025 is the football version of a solar eclipse: rare, slightly disorienting, and you better soak it in while it lasts. To be fair, Finebaum isn't wrong. This year's Clemson team is loaded with top-tier talent across the board—possibly more than any Tigers squad since 2018. Klubnik is no longer a young quarterback with potential—he's now a seasoned leader, entering his third year as a starter with one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the country. On the other side of the ball, Clemson boasts arguably the best defensive front in America, headlined by future first-rounders Peter Woods and T.J. Parker. Advertisement Throw in Avieon Terrell and Antonio Williams—possibly the top cornerback and receiver in the ACC—and it's no surprise Clemson sits in the top five of nearly every post-spring Top 25. You know you're doing something right when even your usual critics are buying in. And in the world of college football punditry, there's no tougher sell than Paul Finebaum. The fact that even he is calling Clemson a contender? That's not just noise. That's validation. So if you needed a sign that Dabo Swinney's Tigers are back in the big-time national title conversation, forget the stats, the rankings, or the spring buzz. Just listen to Paul Finebaum. He thinks Clemson is good. Not just good—good good. Related: Clemson Cracks Top 10 in NIL-Era College Football Job Rankings by Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul Finebaum Names Two Teams On The Brink Of College Football History
College football has experienced significant changes over the past two seasons. Several teams have switched conferences, including the Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, Oregon Ducks, SMU Mustangs and Arizona State Sun Devils. Additionally, the playoff format has expanded from four teams to twelve teams. Due to this expansion, it marked the first time in the playoff's history that teams with two losses qualified. In total, eight of the 12 teams that participated in the playoff had two losses. However, history may be made again in the 2025 season. Advertisement On "The Paul Finebaum Show," an SEC Network analyst suggested that two teams are capable of making the playoffs with only nine wins next season. Texas Longhorns linebacker Trey Moore (8) and Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) in action during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Miron-Imagn Images "Take Ohio State or Texas," Finebaum said. "Both of those could get in with nine (wins) because they play each other to start the year." Finebaum suggests that a loss in the opening game for either Texas or Ohio State may not be detrimental, considering their remaining schedules for the season. According to Athlon Sports, Texas has the fifth-easiest schedule in the SEC for 2025. In contrast, Ohio State faces the seventh-toughest schedule in the Big Ten. Advertisement Some notable games for the Buckeyes, aside from their matchup against Texas, include away games at Washington, Wisconsin and Michigan and a home game against Penn State. The Longhorns have challenging matchups like a road game against Florida, a neutral-site game against Oklahoma, an away game at Georgia and a home game against Texas A&M. Despite facing tough opponents, neither team is ranked in the top 10 for the most difficult schedules in college football. This raises questions about whether either team could still make the playoffs with nine wins, assuming they don't win their conference championship. For example, the Clemson Tigers went 10-3 last year before the postseason but still made it into the playoff due to winning the ACC. Additionally, both teams will have to address the challenge of losing key players if they hope to reach nine wins and position themselves for playoff contention. Ohio State returns only 46% of its production from last year's national championship-winning team, ranking them No. 101, while Texas returns just 45% of its national semifinal team from last year, putting them at No. 103. The season will kick off in Columbus, Ohio, on August 30. Related: Paul Finebaum Reveals 'Real Problem' For College Football Powerhouse
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has high expectations for Texas Longhorns
Since the end of the 2024 campaign, the Texas Longhorns roster has undergone a lot of change. That is partly due to the NFL Draft, in which 12 Longhorns were selected. Despite the changes, optimism is high in Austin and among some analysts, including Paul Finebaum. On his SEC Network Show on ESPN, Finebaum broke down the roster turnover over the last few months. Due to the Longhorns' work in the transfer portal, he sees them as one of the best teams in the SEC. Advertisement "There's a lot of replacing going on at Texas," Finebaum said. "But, nobody, and I mean nobody, did better in the portal or spent more money than the University of Texas. So, I think they are going to be in good shape depth-wise. It may take a little while, although I don't think it will. I think they'll be one of the two or three best teams in the country from the beginning. Win or lose against Ohio State, I still like their chances to win the SEC." In the transfer portal, the Longhorns have secured 11 commitments for this season. That list includes defensive tackle Maraad Watson, wide receiver Emmett Mosley V, and tight end Jack Endries. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff were able to address most of their needs and improve on both sides of the ball. Although the Longhorns have thrived in the portal, they will also welcome a talented freshman class. They have 25 commits heading to Austin for the upcoming season, including multiple five-star recruits. That mix, along with veterans such as Arch Manning and Michael Taaffe, should be enough to keep this team in the playoff chase. Advertisement With a roster full of talent, Texas is poised to build on its success from last year and make a title run. This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has high expectations for Texas Longhorns
