Paul Finebaum insists Ohio State is overrated entering 2025 season
By Mark Kern
Published:
Paul Finebaum has been getting into it with Heather Dinich the last few days when it comes to the preseason college football rankings. Finebaum thinks Alabama is a legitimate national title contender, while Dinich says the Crimson Tide have a lot of questions.
Another very passionate opinion Finebaum has is that the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes are overrated, and that the team is just getting that recognition from last season.
“Don’t be too shocked by this, but Ohio State is too high,” Finebaum said. “I don’t get Ohio State at all, Greeny. I know they won the national championship last year, but that has nothing to do with this. They don’t have the same team. That national championship hangover is going to get to them, and we will see that in about 2.5 weeks when Texas gets up there and walks out of that stadium a winner.”
The Buckeyes are having to bring in a lot of new guys from last year’s team, with the team having to replace the quarterback, two running backs and its No. 2 wide receiver. Quarterback is a position the Buckeyes will have to figure out, as Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz are currently battling for that spot. Whoever wins the battle will have a very difficult matchup in Week 1 against No. 1 Texas.
Regardless of who wins the job, the Buckeyes will still have some of the most talented players in college football on their sidelines. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is arguably the most talented player in the sport.
The defense is always good at Ohio State, and will be led by safety Caleb Downs, who is as good of defensive player as there is in college football. Finebaum is right that this year’s team isn’t last year’s team, but the Buckeyes will be able to match up with any team in the country when it comes to talent.
