Paul Finebaum Didn’t Hesitate When Naming the Two ‘Biggest Brands’ in College Football

Whether you are a die-hard fan or a casual follower of college football, there are a few teams in the sport that you are likely familiar with. This recognition is mainly due to their consistent performance at the top over many years.

Teams such as the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, Oklahoma Sooners, USC Trojans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Michigan Wolverines, Texas Longhorns and others have significantly shaped the landscape of college football and boast some of the most prominent brands in the sport.
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts on which two teams he believes have the biggest brands in college football. While one team’s spot is likely not a surprise, Finebaum suggests that the other team has recently risen to that level.

Whether you are a die-hard fan or a casual follower of college football, there are a few teams in the sport that you are likely familiar with. This recognition is mainly due to their consistent performance at the top over many years.

Teams such as the Ohio State Buckeyes, Alabama Crimson Tide, Oklahoma Sooners, USC Trojans, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Michigan Wolverines, Texas Longhorns and others have significantly shaped the landscape of college football and boast some of the most prominent brands in the sport.
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum shared his thoughts on which two teams he believes have the biggest brands in college football. While one team’s spot is likely not a surprise, Finebaum suggests that the other team has recently risen to that level.

“What you have there are really the two biggest brands in college football right now,” Finebaum said. “Texas has moved into that probably eclipsing Alabama and even Georgia with the season that it had even though it lost to Georgia a couple of times.”

When discussing what it means to be the biggest brand, it’s important to note that it’s not solely about wins and losses. Take the Dallas Cowboys, for instance. They are the most valuable sports franchise in the world, according to “Forbes.” However, they have not won a Super Bowl or reached an NFC Championship Game since 1995.

 

Texas and Ohio State have both been very successful in college football. Since 2000, the Buckeyes have won three national championships while Texas has claimed one title. Despite a challenging decade in the 2010s for Texas, the Longhorns continue to be one of the most valuable sports programs in the country. According to “The Wall Street Journal,” Ohio State and Texas are the two most valuable college football programs. Ohio State is valued at $1.957 billion, while Texas has a valuation of $1.897 billion. Michigan and Georgia follow them in terms of value.

Despite the Longhorns not winning a national championship in nearly 20 years, their financial value remains strong. After making back-to-back appearances in the College Football Playoff, there is hope that this championship drought will soon come to an end.

Ironically, the Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 28-14 in the College Football Playoff semifinal on their way to winning the national championship this season. They will also open the 2025 season against each other, with Texas traveling to Ohio State on Saturday, August 30.