Paul Finebaum Names College Football Powerhouse He Isn't Sure is Elite

Paul Finebaum Names College Football Powerhouse He Isn't Sure is Elite originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The 2025 college football season is approaching quickly, creating great anticipation as teams across the country aim to dethrone the Ohio State Buckeyes and become national champions.

According to ESPN, the Texas Longhorns, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes, Georgia Bulldogs and Clemson Tigers have the best chances of winning this season. However, Paul Finebaum from ESPN is not convinced that one of those teams will be elite this upcoming season.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," the SEC Network analyst expressed uncertainty about whether the Bulldogs are an elite team. He stated that they have the potential to be, but it will depend on the performance of quarterback Gunner Stockton.

"I think Georgia can be good under Gunner Stockton," Finebaum said. "I think the real question that I have is, can they be elite? I think Gunner Stockton is certainly a manageable quarterback. Do they have enough around him?"

Stockton begins the 2025 season with limited playing experience, having appeared in only five games last season. In those games, he threw for a total of 440 yards and one touchdown, with most of his contributions coming during the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff loss, which happened after starter Carson Beck suffered a season-ending injury.

Stockton played a vital role in leading the Bulldogs to an overtime victory against the Texas Longhorns, securing the SEC title after stepping in for Beck, who was injured in the first half.

The Bulldogs earned a 22-19 victory, highlighted by Stockton’s 8-yard run on second-and-8 at the 12-yard line during overtime. On the next play, Trevor Etienne rushed in for the game-winning touchdown from four yards out.

Georgia faced a challenging playoff quarterfinal against Notre Dame, losing 23-10 while struggling offensively throughout the game. Stockton completed 20 of 32 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown.

Finebaum wants to see more from Stockton to determine if Georgia can become an elite team in 2025 or if the Bulldogs are simply a good team that cannot win a national championship.

Related: Paul Finebaum Names Major SEC QB Who Isn't Good Enough to Win a National Championship

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.