Paul Finebaum brutally honest about future of Georgia football: 'I don't feel great'

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum doesn’t feel great about Georgia’s future at the current moment under Kirby Smart.

They’re at the point where winning the national championship is the expectation each and every season. Last season, Georgia fell short in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals eventual national runner-up Notre Dame.

So, Finebaum roasted Smart and Georgia, at least a bit going into 2025.

“I don’t feel great because I do think they took a dip,” Finebaum said on Always College Football. “And I think just like we used to with Nick Saban, expect him to play for the national championship, and losing the title game felt like a lost cause. It’s almost that way now with Georgia and I felt like they underperformed. I mean, they came through at the right moment against Texas, but they had so many disappointing moments … But there were just so many decisions made and talking to the fans every day Greg, whether it’s true or it’s imagined, they do not like Mike Bobo. 

“I mean, he is now the guy with the bullseye, and it’s probably better for Kirby Smart that somebody else is taking the heat if things don’t go well … I don’t feel great about Georgia. Now, what does that mean? They’re still a playoff team. They just don’t feel like a national championship team right now.”

On the contrary, Finebaum wasn’t alarmed by Georgia’s roster turnover after the 2024 season. He said as much in January.

“I’m not alarmed by Georgia,” Finebaum said. “But I think a year from now if they don’t do anything in the Playoff next year the questions will start being raised.”

Despite that, Paul Finebaum still trusts Smart. Even with the step back in on-field results, Finebaum believes that it is explainable and that Georgia has the best coach in football.

“Did we see — was Kirby Smart a comet or not,” Finebaum said. “Right now, I don’t think — I was asked last Tuesday morning as many were, ‘Hey, is Ryan Day now the best coach in college football?’ I said, ‘No. Kirby Smart is still the best coach.’ I’m sure some people were just chortling in the state of Ohio.

“Of course, those same people who were chortling were wanting Ryan Day fired seven weeks ago. It’s the right answer, it’s not about being a prisoner of the Southeast or anything else. It’s just he has performed at the highest level over the past seven or eight years. So, I think he gets the benefit of the doubt.”