Paul Finebaum Casts Doubt on SEC’s Elite Status This Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has arguably been the top conference in college football since the mid-2000s.
However, its dominance may be waning, as a Big Ten team has won the last two national championships; the Michigan Wolverines claimed victory in 2023, followed by the Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024. In both instances, no SEC team made it to the national championship game.
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum addressed the SEC’s recent lack of championships. He expressed his belief that Georgia would have defeated Michigan in 2023, but the Bulldogs were eliminated from playoff contention after losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. This year, Finebaum is questioning whether there is an elite team in the SEC.
Texas Longhorns against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship GameBrett Davis-Imagn Images
“The real question is, does the SEC have an elite team this year?” Finebaum said. “We don’t know right now.”
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) offers a different perspective on team strength and future performance predictions. According to the FPI, three of the top five favorites for the 2025 national championship are the Texas Longhorns, Georgia and Alabama Crimson Tide.
According to On3, Texas, Alabama, and Georgia are among the most talented teams in college football, as indicated by their blue-chip ratios. Texas has a blue-chip ratio of 72%, Georgia’s is 82.14%, and Alabama’s stands at 80.95%.
Another SEC team in the top five for blue-chip ratio is the Texas A&M Aggies, with a ratio of 76%. The only team from the Big Ten that ranks in the top five is the Oregon Ducks.
While Finebaum has expressed uncertainty about whether there is an elite team in the SEC, analytics suggest otherwise, as several of these teams rank among the most talented in the sport. Now, they must navigate their schedules this season and strive to reclaim the national championship for the first time since 2022.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names Five College Football Teams That Can Win the National Championship
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
