Paul Finebaum Names College Football Powerhouse That’s ‘Vastly Overrated’ originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football season is getting closer to kickoff, and since no games have been played yet, the discussion has turned to speculation about which team will win the national championship.
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ESPN’s Paul Finebaum was asked for his predictions, and he identified five teams he believes have a strong chance: the Clemson Tigers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Oregon Ducks, Texas Longhorns and Alabama Crimson Tide.
Notably absent from his list is the defending champion, the Ohio State Buckeyes. Last season, the Buckeyes claimed the national championship in an impressive fashion, defeating the Tennessee Volunteers, Oregon, Texas and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, all by double digits in the College Football Playoff.
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” the SEC Network analyst expressed his skepticism about the Buckeyes’ chances this season.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (4).Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“The team I do not like is Ohio State,” Finebaum said. “I think they’re vastly overrated.”
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Ohio State is facing some challenges this season due to the loss of several key players from last year. Notable departures include quarterback Will Howard, defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, defensive tackles Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton, as well as defensive backs Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock.
Other major players not returning are linebacker Cody Simon, offensive tackles Donovan Jackson and Josh Fryar, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, and tight end Gee Scott Jr. Additionally, offensive linemen Josh Simmons and Rimington Trophy winner Seth McLaughlin have also departed the program. Although McLaughlin missed the end of the last season due to injury, all these players played crucial roles in Ohio State’s national championship run.
On the bright side, the Buckeyes are returning some of the best talent in college football: sophomore receiver Jeremiah Smith, who led the Big Ten with 1,315 receiving yards and 15 receiving touchdowns, and senior defensive back Caleb Downs, a consensus All-American.
Ohio State is in the midst of a quarterback battle, and it remains uncertain who will be throwing to Smith. The leading candidates for the starting position appear to be former five-star redshirt freshman Julian Sayin and redshirt sophomore Lincoln Kienholz.
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The Buckeyes are looking to prove their critics wrong when they take on Texas at noon ET on Aug. 30 in Columbus, Ohio.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names National Championship Contender That’s Not That Good
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.