Paul Finebaum isn’t ready to hand out a College Football Playoff trophy just yet, but he’s making it pretty clear which direction he’s headed.
With the season about a month away, the Big Ten is still sitting on top of the sport after three straight national titles from three different programs. Michigan won in 2023, Ohio State followed in 2024, and Indiana took the crown in 2025. That run has put the rest of college football on notice, and for now, ESPN’s Football Power Index thinks the league may not be giving up that grip anytime soon.
The FPI has Ohio State out front with a 17% chance to win the national championship. Texas is next at 12.8%, followed by Notre Dame at 10.6%. Oregon is the next Big Ten team in the mix, coming in at 9.2% and fifth nationally.
Finebaum was asked at SEC media days who he thinks will win the College Football Playoff, and he pointed to the Buckeyes, Ducks and Fighting Irish as the teams he likes. But on "The Paul Finebaum Show," he went a step further and made it clear where his instincts are taking him.
"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 doesn’t mean he’s locked in, but the list of realistic options seems to be narrowing. Based on his recent comments, Ohio State and Oregon look like the two Big Ten teams most likely to be in the conversation.
Ohio State has the kind of roster that makes people pay attention. Julian Sayin is set to lead the offense at quarterback, with Bo Jackson in the backfield and Jeremiah Smith at wide receiver. Smith, in particular, is being talked about as maybe the best player in college football.
Oregon has its own heavyweight case. The Ducks are bringing back quarterback Dante Moore, wide receivers Dakorien Moore and Evan Stewart, and running back Jordon Davison. They also return plenty on defense as they chase the first national championship in program history.
Between the numbers and the names, the Big Ten enters the season with real momentum and more than one team capable of making a run. If the conference ends up with another champion this winter, it would only deepen the league’s current hold on college football.
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For a program that has spent the last stretch trying to reassert itself, the stakes are bigger than just piling up wins. USC is being grouped with teams that could take a meaningful step forward this fall, yet the Trojans are also the one team in that conversation carrying the most pressure to turn promise into something more tangible. The schedule offers chances, but it also demands proof, and how USC handles those marquee matchups will shape the entire season. [Read more 🡒]