Paul Finebaum isn’t ready to lock in a national champion just yet, but he’s making his direction pretty clear.
With the College Football Playoff race set to kick off in about a month, Finebaum said on “The Paul Finebaum Show” that he’s leaning toward another Big Ten team to finish on top. He didn’t hand out a final pick, but he made it clear where his head is at.
“I don't think it's really in dispute,” Finebaum said. “I haven't made a final decision yet.
Not that anybody's really waiting for that. I'm leaning toward picking a Big Ten team to win it again.”
That fits the bigger picture around the sport right now. The Big Ten has taken control of the national title race over the last three seasons, with a different school winning each year: Michigan in 2023, Ohio State in 2024 and Indiana in 2025.
ESPN’s Football Power Index is also pointing back toward the Big Ten. It has Ohio State with the best shot at the national championship at 17%, followed by Texas at 12.8% and Notre Dame at 10.6%. Oregon is the next Big Ten team on the list at 9.2%, which puts the Ducks fifth overall.
Finebaum said during SEC media days that he likes Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame, so his lean appears to have narrowed toward the Buckeyes and Ducks. Ohio State brings back a loaded roster, with quarterback Julian Sayin, running back Bo Jackson and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith leading the offense. Smith, as Finebaum’s camp would surely tell you, is in the conversation for best player in college football.
Oregon has plenty of firepower of its own. The Ducks return quarterback Dante Moore, wide receivers Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart, and running back Jordon Davison. They also bring back a strong group on defense as they chase the first national championship in program history.
For now, the Big Ten looks like the conference to beat again. Between the numbers and the names, the league enters 2026 with multiple teams that can make a real run at the trophy. If another Big Ten school ends the season with the title, it would only deepen the conference’s grip on college football.
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