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Paul Finebaum Didn't Hesitate Naming Two of the Best QBs in the Country

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 10:30 PM ET

The 2025 college football season will introduce a new group of quarterbacks aiming to become the best in the sport, following the departure of quarterbacks Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart to the NFL.

Ward won the Davey O'Brien Award last season, which is given to the nation's top quarterback. He was then selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans after completing a season in which he threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

With Ward gone, that award is now available for someone new. On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst revealed two returning quarterbacks he believes are definitely among the country's best.

"I think we could argue all day on who the best quarterback in the country is, and in every argument, Garrett Nussmeier will be in there," Finebaum said. "So will (Cade) Klubnik, and then you can add one or two more. But, if he comes out of this season as one of the two or three best quarterbacks in the country, then LSU is in the playoffs with a chance to do something really special."

Nussmeier had an impressive performance last season as the starting quarterback. He threw for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, leading LSU to a 9-4 season.

In 2024, Klubnik had an impressive bounce-back season, throwing for a career-high 3,639 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and only six interceptions. He also rushed for 463 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns.

This was a significant improvement from 2023, his first year as a starter, when he threw for 2,844 yards, 19 touchdowns and had nine interceptions. In that season, he rushed for only 182 yards and four touchdowns.

Finebaum has previously referred to Klubnik as the best quarterback in college football, but he has also expressed high expectations for Nussmeier and LSU this year. Ironically, both players will face off to start the season, with LSU traveling to Clemson on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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

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