Paul Finebaum predicts Texas as national champion, dismisses Penn State as contender

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum couldn’t believe Heather Dinich picked Penn State over a team like Texas to win the national championship. Finebaum pulled back on James Franklin criticism this summer, before it inevitably begins again, but won’t pick the Nittany Lions over the Longhorns.

As the SEC commentator put it, Texas is the best team in the country. They are likely to be No. 1 in the preseason polls when we get set to start the college football season.

Led by Arch Manning, head coach Steve Sarkisian, and a loaded roster to begin with, Texas is national title or bust. But then again, Penn State is too. Just don’t have Finebaum pick them!

“RC, give me that SEC card back again. Heather, you had me until you said number one in the country,” Finebaum said on Get Up. “There is no way. Texas is the best team in the country. They are going to win the national championship. There is no way the Big Ten does it three years in a row. And certainly if I had to bet on somebody, I would never bet on James Franklin doing it. He’s a very good coach. He’s not a great coach. Penn State will not win the national championship.”

So can the Big Ten make it three titles in a row? It’s possible considering Penn State, defending champs Ohio State, Oregon and maybe even Michigan. The SEC is loaded as well, featuring Texas, Georgia, Alabama and other dark horses like LSU.

Paul Finebaum can’t see Penn State over Texas for national title pick

James Franklin will certainly disagree with Finebaum of course. Penn State brings a lot back, starting with quarterback Drew Allar. Coming off of last year’s Orange Bowl loss (CFP Semifinals), a 27-24 defeat to Notre Dame, Franklin was recently asked if it’ll propel Penn State forward.

“I think the way Drew approaches it, and I think the way we approach it, and I think most of the players approach it is, we’re going to be better from those experiences,” Franklin said, via Blue White Illustrated. “You look at a lot of playoff teams, that second year being in the playoffs after experiencing it, you think about how many guys in our locker room have experienced it, even the freshmen that showed up early were able to experience it. And there’s value from that. Not just what the playoffs are like, but the intensity of playing a game. 

“And it’s not like the old bowl games, where you’d go and have a couple days and enjoy yourself and be there for seven days. It’s essentially an away game, and you play that game and then, boom, you’re back, and you gotta get ready for the next one. And each week it’s a big time opponent, so everybody just kind of understanding that.

“And also, the length of the season, how focused that you have to be for that duration of time, and the type of depth you have to have, and maturity. It’s all of that. So I just feel like Drew and the players and the staff, they were just kind of on to the next pass and learn from these experiences. And I feel like everybody feels like we’ll be better because of that.”