Paul Finebaum doubts SEC can win CFP title as Big Ten builds stronger case

Paul Finebaum doubts SEC can win CFP title as Big Ten builds stronger case

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Paul Finebaum doubts SEC can win CFP title as Big Ten builds stronger case

The college football season is quickly approaching, and fans across the country will soon join their teams in the pursuit of a College Football Playoff national championship.

In the 12-team field, only one program will emerge as champion. Although the season has yet to begin, analysts are already debating which conference will produce the eventual national champion. ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum, however, doesn’t believe the SEC will have a team that wins it all.

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During an appearance on “SportsCenter,” Finebaum made a rather surprising admission.

Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Paul Finebaum in attendance of the Ole Miss Rebels against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

“I hate to give a negative answer with that SEC [sign] hanging over my head, but I’m out,” Finebaum said. “I do not like what I see. I think there are better teams around the country like Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame. The SEC has some really good ones like Texas, Georgia, but I’m taking the out again.”

Shift of powers?

As one of college football’s most prominent analysts, Finebaum has become closely associated with the SEC and is widely viewed as one of the conference’s strongest advocates.

That makes his decision to rule out an SEC team winning the national championship particularly surprising. Even so, the conference should once again feature several legitimate contenders.

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Georgia and Texas enter the season as the SEC favorites to reach the CFP. LSU and Florida will also be under new leadership, while Ole Miss and Texas A&M both made the playoff last season.

Dec 31, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton (2) scores a rushing touchdown against Ohio State Buckeyes safety Sonny Styles (20) during the second quarter of the Peach Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

If anything, there’s reason to believe the SEC could place four teams in the playoff field. Finebaum’s question, however, is whether those teams are as strong as the Big Ten’s top contenders.

The Big Ten is loaded with talent. Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Indiana, and USC headline what many consider one of the nation’s deepest conferences.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Big Ten capture another CFP national championship. The conference has won each of the past three national titles.

With the Big Ten in the midst of a dominant stretch, perhaps Finebaum is right to view the SEC as the underdog.

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