Paul Finebaum Names Top Five College Football Team That 'Could Be' Overrated

"They could be," Finebaum said. "I think we tend to grab schools and fall in love. I think that's the case right now with Texas. But there's a lot of reason for that. They have one of the best coaches in the country. They have one of the best quarterbacks. They have elite players across the board. Are they too young? Are they too inexperienced? You could say that about half the schools."

Paul Finebaum Thinks Texas Will Win the College Football Playoff

While Finebaum thinks Texas could be overrated, he doesn't think they will be. Finebaum has Texas winning the national championship for the first time since 2005.

“I believe Texas is going to win it,” Finebaum previously said. “I didn’t mean to avoid your question. It’s going to end all of this, and on January 20, I’ll be the happiest man in America because I won’t have to listen to the Big Tenners or, as my callers call them, the Little Tenners.”

Paul Finebaum Is Buying Stock in Arch Manning

One major reason for Finebaum's optimism is the arrival of Arch Manning as the starting quarterback, replacing Quinn Ewers. Arch Manning is the grandson of legendary college football quarterback Archie Manning and the nephew of NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning. Finebaum expressed that he is confident in Manning's potential and is fully supporting him.

“You buy stocks on what you think they’re going to be worth,” Finebaum previously said. “I’m giving comments, and others are as well on Arch, in terms of what we don’t know. Everybody knows the same thing you just told us. That wasn’t breaking news that he had a tough game. So did other people. But Steve Sarkisian believes in the guy, and I believe in Steve Sarkisian.”

Manning has had limited playing time during his two seasons in Austin. He has recorded a total of 969 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Most of his production occurred during a three-game stretch last season when the starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers, was injured. During that period, Manning threw for 806 yards and eight touchdowns against the University of Texas-San Antonio Road Runners, Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks and Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Texas Replaces Several Key Players From the 2024 Team

National experts are feeling optimistic about Texas this season; however, there are several uncertainties surrounding the Longhorns. The team is experiencing significant roster changes and has lost a considerable amount of production compared to last year. Texas ranks No. 103 in terms of returning production, with only 29 percent of its offensive players back on the roster. Consequently, they sit at No. 126 when it comes to returning offensive production.

The Longhorns have lost four of their top six receivers, their second-leading rusher and four of the five starting offensive linemen, along with Ewers. On the defensive side, Texas has also lost Jahdae Barron, the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation's top defensive back.

Texas will kick off the season in a rematch of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State at noon ET on August 30.