Paul Finebaum is betting against Georgia’s run at the top of the SEC continuing this fall.
Fresh off back-to-back conference titles, Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs head into 2026 with plenty of recent hardware in the trophy case. But on Tuesday’s episode of On3’s “Crain & Cone,” Finebaum made it clear he’s not buying Georgia to make it three straight SEC crowns.
“I’m selling that,” Finebaum replied when asked if he was backing the Bulldogs to repeat again as league champions. “I do think this is [Steve] Sarkisian’s year. I don’t think that is the ultimate goal for him, and quite frankly, that shouldn’t be the ultimate goal for Kirby Smart.”
Finebaum then drew a line between conference success and the bigger prize both programs are really chasing.
“As important as we want to make that game out to be for schools like Georgia and Texas the ultimate goal is winning it all,” the longtime CFB commentator pointed out. “I think he’ll take a longer trip into January this year over holding up that trophy the first Saturday in December in Atlanta.”
Georgia has controlled a lot of the SEC conversation over the last half-decade, especially as the Nick Saban era wound down. Finebaum, though, sees that dominance ending this year.
He also spent time on his own show talking about Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, and the message there was just as blunt. Finebaum said losses to much lesser competition have taken a real toll on how fans view DeBoer’s start in Tuscaloosa.
“He has been unable to stay out of his own way, really,” Finebaum said. “I mean, these losses just keep getting in the way of the narrative that he’s done a great job at Alabama… I think that’s why every time you want to believe, or collectively [believe], that DeBoer is the right coach and deserves all of the support the university is giving him. He gives you a reason not to believe in him.”
That’s the standard at Alabama, Georgia and Texas: high, unforgiving and always aimed at the top. But when the dust settles, only one team can leave with the SEC championship, and only one can end the year as national champion.
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