Paul Finebaum Reveals Which College Football Program Impressed Him the Most in Week 5

With the expansion of the College Football Playoff, the race for being one of the top 12 teams in the sport is just starting to heat up.

Week 5 of the college football season was highlighted by SEC juggernauts going at it in what may be the game of the year between Alabama and Georgia, Notre Dame fighting as hard as ever to prove that their early loss to NIU was a fluke and Utah falling from the ranks of the unbeaten.

Needless to say, if one was asked which team impressed them the most, they could go in a variety of different directions. However, when making an appearance on the "Matt Barrie Show," Paul Finebaum answered that very question with a team that he has been highly critical of throughout the year. One that wasn't ranked and that went into their game as double-digit underdogs.

Finebaum tabbed the Colorado Buffaloes as the team that impressed him the most after they went to Orlando and obliterated the UCF Knights by a score of 48-21.

"Of all the schools that impressed me the most on Saturday it was Colorado," Finebaum said. "They went someplace I thought would be incredibly difficult, and they won in just dominating fashion...As someone who has been very critical of Deion Sanders I mean I have to say he has managed this team quite well in spite of all the bullets and all the attacks and all the criticisms."

The win not only moved Colorado to 4-1 on the year but also earned them some respect from Finebaum. The ESPN analyst expressed that unlike last year, where the hype around the team wasn't deserved and came too fast, the hype around the program is now warranted.

"I don't think very many people thought this was possible other than a group of sicko fans out there in Boulder," said Finebaum regarding Colorado's win. "But they're back to being a legitimate story for the first time. Last year it wasn't legitimate...early on this season, it was drive-by. But Colorado is a legitimate factor right now in college football and there's no denying it."

While Finebaum appears to be at least somewhat in on the Buffs, they have to command the respect of AP Poll voters. Colorado received just one vote, which is one less than Army received. On the bright side for Colorado fans, the Buffs will have a chance to jump into the rankings the next time they take the field.

After having a bye this week, they will host No. 20 Kansas State on Oct. 12 in a game that has a potential statement game written all over it. A win in that one may help their chances of getting ranked and would also help solidify them as a top team in a wide-open Big 12.

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