ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum made it clear this week that he believes the 2025 national champion will once again come from the SEC, and he singled out Texas as the program to get it done.
Speaking on his show, Finebaum said he is so confident in an SEC title that he would “leave the country” if the Big Ten were to win.
“It is,” Finebaum said when asked if the national champion would come from the SEC. “And by the way, if it’s not, I’m leaving the country because I am so sick and tired of being harassed by Big Ten fans on our show.”
Finebaum was quick to downplay the Big Ten’s track record. “The Big Ten has literally done nothing,” he said. “They’ve won two national championships. Michigan won one two years ago. They’ve won one and a half national championships, I think, and before that, in 70 years. And they act like they invented football.”
Turning back to the SEC, Finebaum used Alabama’s history as a measuring stick before pivoting to his championship pick. “Alabama has won about 15 national championships in my lifetime. Now, I realize that’s not a good comparison to a realistic lifespan. But, I believe Texas is going to win; I didn’t mean to avoid your question.”
Finebaum predicted that Texas will put an end to what he sees as overconfidence from the Big Ten. “It’s going to end all 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.”
If Finebaum’s prediction holds, Texas would secure its first national title since 2005 and claim the SEC’s 15th in the last 20 seasons.
