SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum has announced his conference champion pick this season.

During an appearance with On3’s “Crain & Cone,” Finebaum was asked whether he is buying or selling the Georgia Bulldogs winning their third straight SEC title. Not only was he selling, he went on the record and said he believes the Texas Longhorns are going to be the team to unseat Kirby Smart off the throne.

NEW: Paul Finebaum picks Texas to win the SEC Championship, ending Georgia’s two-year run🤘

"I do think this is Sarkisian's year."

(via @crainandcone) pic.twitter.com/b8Bt0zm66D

— On3 (@On3) August 3, 2026

“I know it’s easy to say and we all say it but I do think this is [Steve] Sarkisian’s year,” Finebaum said.

“I don’t think that is the ultimate goal for him and quite frankly it shouldn’t be the ultimate goal for Kirby Smart…as important as we make that out to be, the ultimate goal is winning it all and I think Kirby in the back of his mind…I think he would take a longer trip into January this year over holding up that trophy the first Saturday of December in Atlanta.”

As Finebaum alluded, winning the SEC does not automatically lead to success in the postseason, as Georgia has been eliminated in their first playoff game each of the last two years following their victories in Atlanta. Regardless, the Dawgs still own the conference, and Texas wants to take it for the first time in its history since joining the SEC.

It should be a fascinating season, and it might just be Texas and Georgia on a crash course for another epic showdown in the SEC title game.