Paul Finebaum has Texas second in SEC due to 'elite quarterback,' recruiting

In its first year in the SEC, Texas could be in position to make some noise. The Longhorns lost some key production to the NFL Draft, but have multiple contributors coming back and some high-profile additions coming in as they usher in the new era.

While the media in attendance at SEC Media Days weigh their decisions in the preseason poll, Paul Finebaum thinks Texas could finish near the top of the standings. In fact, he went so far as to put the Longhorns at No. 2.

Finebaum cited a few reasons for his decision, but it starts at the quarterback position with Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning in the room. Add in a hot streak on the recruiting trail, and Texas is in position as the SEC moves away from the East-West division model.

“They’re probably No. 2, and the reason is they have, I think, an elite quarterback. And the guy after the elite quarterback may be better?” Finebaum told On3’s J.D. PicKell on The Hard Count from Radio Row in Dallas. “I don’t know. I like having him as a backup. And secondly, their recruiting is so deep, as I’ve heard you point out so many different times. They’re ready.

“Texas is not in the need of anything. I love their attitude. I was out there two weeks ago for the celebration. Is it bigger and better? Yeah. We had a four-hour show, and if you were watching, it looked like there were 50,000 people there.”

How Texas is blending old and new in first SEC go-round

Ewers is the biggest returning piece for Texas, opting not to test the NFL Draft waters in a year filled with quarterback talent. He’s coming off an impressive second year in Austin, leading the Longhorns to one final Big 12 title as he threw for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns.

As Ewers goes through his final year with the Longhorns, Manning is waiting in the wings to make one of the best 1-2 punches in the country at quarterback. Texas also added to the offense in the transfer portal, landing former Alabama receiver and Iron Bowl hero Isaiah Bond – the No. 7 overall player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings.

On defense, the Longhorns added another highly rated transfer in former UTSA EDGE Trey Moore, who came in at No. 27 in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. He joins a group that also includes Ethan Burke, who led UT with 5.5 sacks a year ago.

The defense also features Five Star Plus+ recruit Colin Simmons – the crown jewel of Texas’ No. 6-ranked recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. Simmons was the No. 15 overall player from the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.