Paul Finebaum Names 'Without a Doubt' the Team to Beat in the SEC

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Oct 22, 2025 3:26 PM ET

Key Points

Alabama has won six straight games, including four over ranked opponents.
Paul Finebaum says Alabama, not Texas A&M, is the SEC’s top team.
Quarterback Ty Simpson leads the Heisman race after a stellar first half of the season.

As we enter Week 9 of the 2025 college football season, the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies are the top-ranked team in the SEC. However, they are not the ones receiving all the attention.

The No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide began the season on a challenging note, losing 31-17 to the Florida State Seminoles. Since that game, the Seminoles have struggled, going 2-4 overall and 0-4 in the ACC. However, Alabama has turned things around, winning six consecutive games. Notably, they have defeated four straight ranked opponents: the then-No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs (on the road), the then-No. 16 Vanderbilt Commodores, the then-No. 14 Missouri Tigers (also on the road) and the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers.

During an appearance on "The Matt Barrie Show," ESPN's Paul Finebaum stated that he firmly believes Alabama is the top team to beat in the SEC.

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass.© Brett Davis-Imagn Images

"Without a doubt," Finebaum said. "I don't want to mitigate the name of Nick Saban, because it's pretty self-explanatory. But this is the first time I've been in Tuscaloosa during the football season this year, and I just didn't hear Nick Saban's name very often. Everyone pays the proper amount of reverence and deference to him, but it was about Kalen Deboer, it wasn't about Nick Saban any longer."

In his first season as the starting quarterback, Ty Simpson is leading the pack. He has completed 70.2% of his passes for a total of 1,931 yards, throwing 18 touchdowns and only one interception. This impressive performance gives him the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy this year, slightly ahead of Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

The defense is anchored by linebackers Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson, who lead the team with 46 and 40 tackles, respectively. Additionally, defensive back Bray Hubbard has been a key player in creating turnovers, having intercepted three passes this season and also forcing a fumble.

Alabama’s six-game surge has positioned them as one of the SEC’s most complete teams, one that thrives on balance and discipline. Simpson’s steady leadership has stabilized the offense, while the linebacker duo of Jefferson and Lawson anchors a defense that continues to create game-changing turnovers.

The Crimson Tide now turn their attention to a SEC clash against the South Carolina Gamecocks on the road on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. With the SEC title race wide open and Simpson emerging as a Heisman frontrunner, Alabama’s latest run could be the start of another championship push in the post-Saban era.

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

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