Paul Finebaum Makes Bold Prediction on Georgia Football’s 2025 College Football Playoff Chances That Has Fans Talking Nationwide

When Paul Finebaum speaks, the college football world listens. And when he talks Georgia Bulldogs, it’s bound to cause a stir. The ever-vocal ESPN analyst and SEC Network mainstay has once again weighed in on the playoff landscape—this time offering his take on Georgia’s odds of reaching the College Football Playoff in 2025. In classic Finebaum fashion, his prediction wasn’t shy, subtle, or without consequences. It was bold, calculated, and based on more than just statistics—it was rooted in patterns, pressure, and pedigree.

According to Finebaum, Georgia remains one of the most dangerous teams in college football—but this year, it won’t be enough to guarantee them a spot in the four-team playoff. That’s right. Despite returning star power and maintaining one of the deepest rosters in the nation, Finebaum believes the Bulldogs will need help if they’re going to play for it all this winter.

Finebaum’s comments, made during a recent segment on The Paul Finebaum Show, have already sent shockwaves through the SEC and beyond. “Georgia has the talent. That’s not the issue,” Finebaum said. “The issue is timing, depth at quarterback, and the fact that the SEC is going to cannibalize itself in 2025.”

Georgia fans were quick to raise their eyebrows, and understandably so. Head coach Kirby Smart has turned Athens into a football factory. The Bulldogs are barely two years removed from winning back-to-back national championships and have been to the College Football Playoff three times since 2017. Their 2024 campaign ended just short, sparking a hunger in the program that Finebaum acknowledged could drive a monster 2025 run. But there are also landmines everywhere.

At the heart of Finebaum’s analysis is a schedule he describes as “brutal.” The Bulldogs face SEC newcomers like Texas and Oklahoma, still have their annual blood-feud with Florida in Jacksonville, and face a late-season road test against Alabama. That doesn’t include the potential SEC title game—which could feature a rematch with the Crimson Tide or another emerging power like Ole Miss or LSU.

“The path is treacherous,” Finebaum said. “Georgia could be the second-best team in the country and still have two losses. That’s how competitive this SEC slate is. And in a four-team playoff, you don’t get the benefit of the doubt with two losses unless chaos erupts elsewhere.”

The new 12-team playoff era begins in 2026, and Finebaum believes that if it had come a year earlier, Georgia would be a shoo-in. But in 2025, with only four tickets to punch, the room for error remains microscopic.

Still, Finebaum isn’t dismissing Georgia’s potential. In fact, he admitted he sees them as having the highest ceiling of any SEC team. Much of that optimism lies in the leadership of quarterback Gunner Stockton, who enters the season with high expectations and plenty to prove. “Stockton has the arm, the poise, the football IQ. But he’s untested in big-game pressure. That will define Georgia’s season,” Finebaum said.

Stockton, a junior, has been in the system and shown flashes of elite talent. But stepping into the shoes of predecessors like Stetson Bennett—who delivered two national titles and thrived in the biggest moments—is no small feat. Finebaum emphasized that Georgia’s ability to avoid slip-ups in swing games will come down to Stockton’s decision-making and composure under fire.

Then there’s the defense—always a calling card under Kirby Smart. Georgia returns several key starters, including edge rusher Mykel Williams and linebacker Jalon Walker. Finebaum acknowledged this unit “may be Kirby’s fastest yet,” with speed at every level and the kind of depth that wins championships. But the concern isn’t the defense—it’s whether Georgia can stay healthy and avoid the kind of offensive droughts that plagued them in key moments during the 2024 season.

Finebaum pointed out that in last year’s losses, Georgia stalled in the red zone and lacked explosiveness against elite secondaries. This year’s offense has added firepower, but there are still questions about how receivers will match up against elite cornerbacks from teams like Alabama and Texas. “You can’t just win with scheme in today’s SEC. You need playmakers who can win one-on-one battles,” Finebaum explained.

Another major factor Finebaum highlighted was coaching turnover around the league. While Kirby Smart has built a model of consistency in Athens, other programs have caught up in terms of coaching resources, NIL advantages, and recruitment pipelines. “The rest of the SEC has been studying Georgia for years. The advantage they once had is now just the expectation,” Finebaum said.

So, what would it take for Georgia to crash the playoff party in 2025? Finebaum listed three key factors: a healthy and efficient Gunner Stockton, a flawless special teams unit, and defensive dominance in the red zone. “If they win the turnover margin and avoid midseason hiccups, they’re a playoff team,” he said. “But if they lose one early and another late, they’re going to be the best team watching from home.”

Georgia’s biggest advantage might be its hunger. After falling short in 2024, Smart and his staff have pushed urgency throughout the spring and summer. Reports out of Athens suggest the locker room is more focused than ever, with veteran leaders holding younger players accountable. “There’s a hunger you can feel,” one team source told ESPN. “We know the standard, and last year didn’t meet it.”

That desire to restore the program to national dominance may just be Georgia’s x-factor. Finebaum has long praised Smart for his ability to manage egos and motivate without overreaching. “He’s a master of the message,” Finebaum said. “Kirby knows when to press, when to praise, and when to demand more. That’s what separates him from a lot of great coaches.”

Still, the outside world won’t cut Georgia any breaks. With expectations sky-high and no room for slip-ups, every Saturday becomes a playoff audition. And if Finebaum is right, even a near-perfect season might not be enough.

It’s not lost on Georgia fans that the 2025 season may be one of the final years of the four-team format. Many believe the Bulldogs would dominate in a 12-team setup, especially with their depth and postseason experience. But for now, the margin for error remains razor-thin.

Finebaum’s prediction didn’t outright exclude Georgia—it simply reminded fans how high the bar truly is. “I wouldn’t bet against them,” he said. “But I wouldn’t lock them in either. That’s the reality of college football’s cruelest season yet.”

Whether Georgia thrives or falls just short, one thing is certain: The eyes of the college football world will be fixed on Athens this fall. And if the Bulldogs manage to run the gauntlet and earn a playoff berth, they’ll have done it the hard way. The Georgia way.

And if not—well, Paul Finebaum will be ready with the mic, the analysis, and another take that gets the nation talking all over again.