Paul Finebaum, one of the most prominent voices in college football, has built a reputation for offering sharp insights and bold predictions. In a recent segment on ESPN, Finebaum turned his attention to a program he believes is poised for a major resurgence in the upcoming season. While he’s known for stirring passionate debates, this time his comments resonated strongly with fans and analysts alike. The team in question has been a sleeping giant in recent years—one that is finally beginning to wake up.
Finebaum highlighted the Texas Longhorns as the team he believes is set for a significant comeback in the college football landscape. Once a perennial powerhouse, Texas has spent the better part of the last decade mired in mediocrity, struggling to recapture the glory of its national championship run under Mack Brown in the mid-2000s. Despite ample resources, fertile recruiting grounds, and a passionate fan base, the Longhorns have failed to consistently meet expectations. That may finally be about to change.
According to Finebaum, the confluence of several key factors is setting the stage for Texas to reemerge as a national contender. First and foremost is the leadership of head coach Steve Sarkisian. Now entering his fourth season at the helm, Sarkisian has had time to build the program in his image. His offense, rooted in the innovative principles he honed as offensive coordinator at Alabama, has started to gel. Last season, Texas demonstrated flashes of brilliance, including a marquee win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa—an early indicator that things were moving in the right direction.
Recruiting has also played a central role in Texas’s rebuild. Sarkisian and his staff have compiled one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, bolstering the roster with blue-chip talent on both sides of the ball. Five-star quarterback Arch Manning, the heir to the legendary Manning football lineage, headlines the group and has already generated immense buzz. Manning’s development behind incumbent starter Quinn Ewers offers Texas rare depth and stability at the most important position on the field.
Finebaum noted that the quarterback room at Texas is “as good as any in the country,” and that Ewers, in particular, is poised to have a breakout season. After a rocky start to his
