Paul Finebaum predicts Oregon will win the college football national championship

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum expects the Big Ten to secure another national title this season, specifically projecting Oregon to claim the trophy. Finebaum offered his forecast during an appearance on the College Football Unfiltered podcast. His predictions also included Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith as his pick for the Heisman Trophy and Penn State as a College Football Playoff sleeper team. Finebaum cited Penn State’s manageable schedule as a primary factor for his outlook. Despite his focus on the Big Ten, he identified Mississippi State and Tennessee as having the top game-day atmospheres in the SEC. The analyst's current stance represents a shift from his traditional reputation as a defender of SEC dominance in the sport.

• 8:01 AMYahoo Sports — Paul Finebaum predicts Big Ten will continue its rule (but gives SEC some love)