Paul Finebaum Names College Football Powerhouse That Is A National Title Contender

Conference realignment has brought new excitement to the 2024 college football season, especially with the addition of eight more teams to the College Football Playoff.

One team that is generating a lot of buzz as it enters a new conference is the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns are coming off their best season since 2009, having won the Big 12 and made their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. As a result, Texas is now considered an instant contender by many in the SEC this season.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum is one of those people. He thinks the Longhorns could be a national championship-caliber team.

"I think Texas is a legitimate final four team, maybe a national championship type of team," Finebaum said.

The ESPN Football Power Index (FPI) measures a team's strength and is designed to be the most accurate predictor of a team's performance for the remainder of the season. According to FPI, Texas ranks as the third-best team in the country, trailing behind the Georgia Bulldogs and Oregon Ducks. This aligns with Finebaum's assessment.

FPI gives Texas a 24.2 percent chance to win the SEC, a 67.8 percent chance of making the CFP, and an 11.4 percent chance of winning it all. The last two percentages have the Longhorns ranked No. 3 in the country.

Related: Paul Finebaum Names SEC Team Full Of ‘Bravado’ And ‘Swag’