Few people are as entertaining as Paul Finebaum in the world of sports media.And he could soon be taking his talents, the gift of gab, to the U.S. Senate as he weighs a run for a Republican seat in Alabama. Which would then beg the question: who would fill his massive shoes at ESPN?Finebaum currently hosts The Paul Finebaum Show, a four-hour daily program on ESPN Radio that is also simulcast on the SEC Network.He also makes regular television appearances on the network’s biggest studio shows, including First Take, Get Up, SportsCenter, and SEC Nation, to name a few.All of this is to say that if Finebaum leaves the network, a decision he is expected to make at the end of the college football season, ESPN will be left with a major void to fill.Through a 10-year, $3 billion deal, ESPN controls the broadcast rights to SEC football and men’s basketball. As the leading voice of the SEC, Finebaum commands significant influence within a conference that is one of ESPN’s key business partners.Front Office Sports released its own list of possible successors, featuring several intriguing names that could replace Finebaum.Among the names on the list was Booger McFarland. A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, McFarland brings years of television experience and a charismatic personality made for both TV and radio.While many fans remember McFarland from his run as an analyst on Monday Night Football inside the Booger Mobile, he’s been a fixture in ESPN’s college and NFL coverage for years.The LSU standout actually broke into the business as one of the SEC Network’s first on-air personalities back in 2014.He is a fan favorite and would find immediate success if given a bigger platform.Finebaum has been a mainstay in sports-talk radio and television for yearsGettyMcFarland has the charisma to deliver what Finebaum has made his name onGettyOther names on FOS’s list included Josh Pate, Peter Burns, and Greg McElroy, among others.While Finebaum sits at the top of the college football media food chain, with a career spanning decades, Pate is an emerging star who has experienced a meteoric rise in recent years.Pate has worked with outlets like ESPN, CBS Sports, 247Sports, and Yahoo Sports, building a reputation for insightful yet entertaining data-driven analysis.He gained notoriety with his digital-first show “Late Kick,” which exploded on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. In 2024, Pate signed a CBS Sports extension, taking ownership of his podcast and YouTube channels.Burns and McElroy have also been around the block, holding various roles at ESPN and the SEC Network over the years.Whether or not Finebaum decides to leave, the decision is sure to cause ripples throughout the network.Finebaum has been with ESPN since 2013Getty