Paul Finebaum Lays Out SEC’s Path To Get 2 Teams Into CFB Playoff, Laughs At Idea That The Big 12 Could Get 2 Teams In

paul finebaum sec teams in playoff

Getty Image


  • Paul Finebaum thinks the SEC has an easy path to get two teams into this year’s College Football Playoff.
  • The ESPN analyst doesn’t share that same idea for the Big 12, however.
  • Check out more sports coverage at BroBible here.

We’re less than 60 days out from the start of the 2021 college football season, which means we’ve firmly entered that point of the offseason when everyone begins giving their predictions.

To no surprise, Paul Finebaum already has his sights set on two SEC teams making this year’s Colleg Football Playoff as he is high on Georgia this year. Alabama is the other team he sees making the Playoff.

While Finebaum thinks the SEC has a clear path on getting two teams into this year’s CFB Playoff, fellow ESPN analyst Heather Dinich thinks the Big 12 has a good shot at getting two teams in.

The two appeared on Wednesday’s edition of ‘Get Up’ where Dinich explained why she thinks both Oklahoma and Iowa State are the two most likely teams out of the Big 12 to make the Playoff. Finebaum literally laughed at her comments and explained why the SEC is the only conference that could get two teams in this year.

“It’s really simple — Georgia plays Clemson in the first game of the year and if they win that game, I think they could afford to lose Alabama later on,” Finebaum said, according to 247 Sports.

“If Iowa State loses to Oklahoma, where are they going to go for strength of schedule? Alabama can run the table and get in, they could maybe lose to Texas A&M and get in. This is not because I work for the SEC Network. I think Oklahoma is a serious threat, but Iowa State? C’mon. They will not go undefeated and they will not get in.”

Georgia’s path to the Playoff very much begins and ends with its season opener against Clemson. If the Bulldogs do beat the Tigers – which Finebaum predicts they will – then their path to an unbeaten regular season is rather clear. Georgia could then suffer a loss to Alabama in the SEC Championship game and likely still get into the Playoff.