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In 2021, ESPN's Paul Finebaum didn't hold back when discussing the state of Texas football. Appearing on Get Up with Mike Greenberg, Finebaum dismissed the Longhorns as irrelevant. "Texas is no big deal other than to Texas fans," he said, labeling the program a distant third in their own conference behind Texas A&M and Oklahoma. But fast-forward to 2025, and the narrative has dramatically shifted.
The Longhorns, now a College Football Playoff powerhouse, are preparing to face Arizona State in the Peach Bowl. Finebaum, whose 2021 comments painted a picture of a struggling, mismanaged program, has had to revise his stance, albeit cautiously. On Get Up earlier this week, Finebaum predicted an "easy" win for Texas, a far cry from his earlier skepticism.
In his 2021 critique, Finebaum argued that Texas was "stuck in the mud" due to istrative chaos and recruiting struggles. He claimed Steve Sarkisian's hire as head coach wouldn't resolve the Longhorns' deeper issues, attributing Sarkisian's prior success at Alabama to the talent surrounding him. "Hembo [content producer Paul Hembekides] could have coached that offense last year at Alabama,"Finebaum quipped at the time.
Now, the Longhorns have silenced critics. With a top-tier defense and one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Quinn Ewers, Texas has emerged as a formidable playoff contender. Ewers, who Finebaum once considered "overrated," has led the Longhorns to a stellar season, setting up an intriguing Peach Bowl matchup against Arizona State's outspoken quarterback, Sam Leavitt.
Finebaum dismisses Leavitt's bold claims, backs Texas for Peach Bowl dominance
Leavitt hasn't shied away from bold claims, stating he's better than Ewers and that his team belongs on the same stage. Finebaum addressed Leavitt's comments on Get Up, saying, "Sam, you're not gonna prove you're the better quarterback. I applaud the confidence, but this isn't going to happen."
Finebaum's renewed faith in Texas further underscores how far the program has come. "Texas should win this game, and I think they'll do it easily," he said, reflecting a stark contrast to his 2021 take.
The Longhorns kick off against the Sun Devils at 1:00 p.m. ET on ESPN. Whether they dominate as Finebaum now predicts or face unexpected resistance, one thing is clear: Texas is no longer "stuck in the mud."