Paul Finebaum Names Best Team in College Football Without Hesitation

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Kevin Matthew Borba | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 3:01 PM ET

The 2025 college football season is getting closer, which means the predictions for the 2025 season are beginning to flood in.

On a recent edition of ESPN's "Get Up," college football insiders Paul Finebaum and Heather Dinich were tasked with discussing who they view as the best teams in college football, despite not having seen the new renditions of any team in the sport play yet.

While Dinich was confident that this would be the year for James Franklin and the Penn State Nittany Lions, Finebaum did not share the same ideology. Instead, he gravitated toward the program that many fans have noticed he seems to have an affinity for in the Texas Longhorns.

Heather, you had me until you said number one in the country,” Finebaum said. “There is no way. Texas is the best team in the country. They are going to win the national championship."

This pick shouldn't necessarily surprise anyone, considering Texas is led by first-year starter Arch Manning, who Finebaum recently said was the best quarterback college football has seen since Florida legend Tim Tebow.

Although Manning is a former No. 1 overall recruit, these are certainly lofty expectations for him and a team that is replacing its three leading pass catchers, four offensive linemen and a slew of stars on defense. Only time will tell, but Finebaum is riding with Manning and the Longhorns over everyone.

WHEN DID TEXAS LAST WIN A TITLE?

If Finebaum is correct in picking Texas, it'd be the program's first since 2005, when Vince Young led them to a last-second victory over USC.

Manning and Texas will open the year against Ohio State in Columbus on Saturday, Aug. 30, in a game that will be featured on Fox's Big Noon Kickoff.

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

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