Paul Finebaum Emphatically Declares SEC Program as 'One of the Best Teams in the Country'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 6:00 PM ET

The 2025 college football offseason has been full of intriguing storylines. Some of the key narratives include coaches facing pressure to perform, legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick transitioning to the college ranks as he takes the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina and the saga surrounding Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee Volunteers.

Other storylines to consider include which teams could improve from the previous year and surprise some fans. One such team is the LSU Tigers. Last season, LSU finished with a record of 9-4 and has yet to make the College Football Playoff under head coach Brian Kelly. Kelly took over in 2022, leading the Tigers to a 10-4 record and winning the SEC West, although they ultimately lost to the Georgia Bulldogs.

LSU had a successful 10-3 season in 2023. Hopes were high in 2024 when the team started with a 6-1 record. However, a three-game losing streak derailed their playoff aspirations. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," an SEC Network analyst expressed confidence that this year will be different, predicting that the Tigers will be one of the best teams in the sport.

"LSU is going to be one of the best teams in the country," Finebaum said.

Finebaum has been very high on LSU this offseason. He previously stated, “Right now, I would have to think of LSU as a playoff team,” Finebaum said. “It’s crowded. In the SEC, you essentially have Texas, I believe you have Alabama, Georgia, LSU and who is next?”

The Tigers are looking forward to the upcoming season after finishing last year with a strong 9-4 record. They return 62% of their offensive production, which ranks them No. 38 in the nation. A key player returning this season is star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and had 12 interceptions last year.

LSU will also keep junior linebacker Whit Weeks and sophomore running back Caden Durham. Last season, Weeks led the team with 125 tackles and made 10 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Durham, as a true freshman, rushed for 753 yards and scored six touchdowns.

The Tigers enjoy a favorable schedule, as Athlon Sports ranks them as having the sixth-easiest schedule in the SEC. However, it starts tough as the Tigers will kick off their season with a significant away game against the Clemson Tigers on Aug. 30 at 7:30. p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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