Paul Finebaum doubles down on Texas as the best college football team entering 2025

As annual media days are being hosted around the country, the start of the 2025 football season has never felt closer. But who is going to be the best college football team this fall?

That’s a question the panel of ESPN2’s Get Up put to analyst Paul Finebaum on Thursday morning. And he didn’t equivocate on his pick.

“Well, that’s pretty boring, but I’m sticking with Texas,” Finebaum said. “They just have it all across the board. Now, some of these people reading the magazines at the grocery store are going, ‘How can you say that, because they’ve had to replace so many skill position players?’ That’s all true. Just watch the NFL Draft. But Steve Sarkisian has recruited, and he has mined the portal better than anyone in the land, so his roster is superb.”

Texas has certainly done that, and it’s one of the reasons Finebaum is comfortable naming the Longhorns the best college football team heading into the season. The transfer portal, in particular, has been kind.

The Longhorns added a handful of transfers from the ACC, snagging California tight end Jack Endries and Stanford receiver Emmett Mosley. That duo adds some instant firepower to the offense.

Endries has totaled 1,031 yards receiving and four touchdowns over the last two seasons. Mosley tallied 48 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns last season as a freshman.

Then you start to add in talent like five-star freshman receiver Kaliq Lockett. He has the appearance of a major contributor from Day 1. Bottom line: Texas is loaded again and very well may be the best college football team this fall.

Arch Manning donates to flood relief

Central Texas’s beautiful Hill Country area has been devastated by once-in-a-generation flood that has already resulted in the deaths of over 100 people, including more than two dozen children. As Texas and federal officials continue recovery efforts, the rebuilding process is just beginning for the area.

While many Texas-based sports organizations have already donated money to the ongoing effort in Central Texas, Longhorns QB Arch Manning took to social media to crowdsource support, including announcing his own donation with a recent post to his personal Instagram.

“Hey everyone, this is Arch Manning. The flooding in Central Texas has devastated communities and caused enormous loss. My heart goes out to everyone that’s been affected,” Manning said Tuesday on Instagram. “Please join me in donating to the four organizations below who are providing vital support as recovery efforts get underway. Thank you.”

Manning’s Instagram specifically cited the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, Texas Search and Rescue, Mercy Chefs and the United Cajun Navy as needing financial support to carry out their heroic efforts in the Texas Hill Country. So while some are debating whether Texas will be the nation’s best college football team, Manning is doing his part to give back to the community.

On3’s Alex Byington also contributed to this report.