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Paul Finebaum Reveals Biggest Roadblock Facing a College Football Playoff Contender

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 5:00 PM ET

The 2025 college football season presents an opportunity for rising teams to demonstrate that their previous success was not a fluke. Teams such as the Indiana Hoosiers, SMU Mustangs and Boise State Broncos, which faced skepticism last year, have the chance to prove they deserve to be part of the College Football Playoff conversation.

This also provides an opportunity for teams that made progress but fell short of reaching the playoff to continue their journey. One such team is the South Carolina Gamecocks. Last season, the Gamecocks finished with a record of 9-4 and ranked No. 15 in the country, narrowly missing the playoff.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst was asked whether South Carolina has a chance to make the playoff this year and if quarterback LaNorris Sellers is the real deal. Finebaum expressed some optimism but noted that there is one key factor that could hinder their progress.

"I think he has a chance to be great," Finebaum previously said. "I think the challenge for South Carolina is surviving the schedule. If they get knocked around, I think that final game may be a little bit different story."

Paul Finebaum Thinks LaNorris Sellers Is the Best QB in South Carolina History

Finebaum has been very high on Sellers this year. The redshirt sophomore is entering his second season as the starter. Finebaum said he might already be the best in Gamecock history.

“To me, LaNorris Sellers is the best quarterback they’ve had; I mean, they’ve had a couple of good ones, but I think he could be the best,” Finebaum previously said.

Sellers had an impressive first year as a starter, throwing for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 65.6% of his passes. In addition to his passing achievements, he rushed for 674 yards and scored seven touchdowns. These accomplishments have earned him the fifth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy.

LaNorris Sellers Downplays South Carolina's Hype

While Finebaum is optimistic about the season, Sellers downplayed the hype when he appeared on "The Triple Option" podcast. He said he does “not focus on it too much." He said his goal is to improve and “keep winning…we’ve just got to keep it up, bring it again this season.” Sellers believes that by making necessary improvements and focusing on one thing at a time, they can achieve their first College Football Playoff.

Sellers hopes to improve on those achievements for the 2025 season, which will begin with the Gamecocks facing the Virginia Tech Hokies at 3 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 in Atlanta.

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

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