Finebaum ranks Oregon No. 1, puts Georgia outside top four entering 2026

ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum went on the record Wednesday against the consensus, arguing that Georgia does not belong in the top three of the preseason AP Poll and that Oregon should be ranked No. 1 entering the 2026 season.

Appearing on SportsCenter, Finebaum laid out a top group that would place the Ducks first, with Notre Dame and Ohio State also ahead of the Bulldogs. He further argued that Texas is a better SEC representative than Georgia, meaning he would have the Bulldogs sitting outside his top five at a minimum.

Oregon should be No. 1. Let me go ahead and get that off my chest.

— Paul Finebaum, ESPN, on SportsCenter

Finebaum also took issue with Notre Dame's placement at No. 4 in the poll, calling it a sign of disrespect toward the Fighting Irish. He described Oregon and Notre Dame as interchangeable candidates for the top spot, stopping well short of treating either the Bulldogs or any other SEC program as a clear frontrunner.

I think Oregon and Notre Dame are the two best teams.

— Paul Finebaum, ESPN, on SportsCenter

On Georgia specifically, Finebaum drew a pointed comparison to the Alabama dynasty, suggesting that poll voters reflexively elevate the Bulldogs regardless of on-field merit. "They got it wrong by putting Georgia in the top three," he said. "Georgia is now the new Alabama. It doesn't matter what we think. They're just going to be ranked in the top three."

Georgia will have an opportunity to answer Finebaum's skepticism on the field. The Bulldogs open their 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Tennessee State.