Paul Finebaum predicts championship hangover for Ohio State: 'I do not see the repeat'

Ohio State won the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff last season, the Buckeyes’ second national championship in the CFP era. However, Paul Finebaum wants fans to enjoy it while it lasts.

The SEC analyst revealed the likelihood that the Buckeyes will repeat as champions of the CFP in consecutive seasons. He predicts Ohio State falling short of its ultimate goal.

“I do not see the repeat,” Finebaum said during an appearance on SportsCenter Saturday morning. “To me, there is a hangover effect when you win a national championship. We rarely see a repeat. We saw that with Georgia a couple of years ago, but it is very difficult.”

Ohio State had 14 players selected in the 2025 NFL Draft following last year’s championship run. Head coach Ryan Day has had to work diligently in order to piece together another elite team in Columbus this season. In response to the departures, Ohio State brought in the No. 11 overall transfer portal class and a top-five recruiting class this season.

Still, the Buckeyes won’t have a veteran under center after Will Howard‘s departure after last season. They also start the season out against Texas, albeit at home, but will still prove for a tough matchup right out of the gates.

“I think what happened last year is going to hang over them. Especially the fact that they have so many players in the NFL now,” Finebaum said.

“Notably, they have a new quarterback in Julian Sayin. They do have the best player in the country in Jeremiah Smith, and maybe the second best in Caleb Downs, but they’re going down Week 1 against Texas, and they’ll probably lose to Penn State later in the year as well.”

Ohio State has won eight straight matchups against the Nittany Lions dating back to 2017. However, the Nittany Lions have closed the margin over the past two seasons. Both 2023 and 2024’s matchups were decided by one score despite both ending in Buckeye victories.

Criticism is nothing new for the Buckeyes, as they faced immense backlash after losing to Michigan for the fourth-straight time last season. The loss in the regular season finale cost Ohio State its chance to play for a Big Ten championship and earn a first-round bye in the playoffs.

In the end, Ohio State took that criticism on the chin, ran the CFP gauntlet and won the program’s first national championship in a decade. They’ll look to similarly silence the critics this fall beginning on Aug. 30 against the Longhorns.