Paul Finebaum explains why Michigan's 2023 national championship was difficult, remarkable
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum was critical of Michigan and Jim Harbaugh at times during the 2023 season. It’s safe to say he has had a change of heart.
Finebaum appeared on SportsCenter Tuesday afternoon and had high praise for Michigan’s run to the 2023 national championship, calling it one of the most impressive he has ever seen.
“I think it was one of the most remarkable and difficult routes to a national championship I have ever seen,” Paul Finebaum said. “Sometimes you’re preordained. And I realize Michigan was a preseason top 2 or 3 pick, but the road they took is unlike any we have ever seen.”
Jim Harbaugh was suspended to start the regular season and to end the regular season, but the Wolverines continued to pile up wins without him.
They then beat Ohio State to close out the regular season, before topping Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game, Alabama in the Rose Bowl and Washington in the national title game to win it all.
“First of all, they had to deal with Coach Prime in the first couple of weeks. He sucked all the oxygen out. And then Jim Harbaugh sucked all the oxygen out,” Finebaum said. “And nobody would have ever believed him holding up the trophy at the end and really being universally applauded, because there was so much doubt along the way.”
Paul Finebaum admits he was ‘never more wrong’ about Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
Paul Finebaum has been one of, if not Jim Harbaugh’s biggest detractor since the coach took over the Michigan Wolverines.
Well, Harbaugh finally captured a national title for the Big Ten power, and the SEC Network analyst is giving him his flowers. Fienbaum joined Get Up on Tuesday morning, sharing his reaction to Harbaugh completing an undefeated season with the Wolverines.
“I say, ‘congratulations.’ And Greeny, I was cheering for him last night,” Finebaum said, shocking his colleagues. “I can’t explain it, I’m sure it’s some weird thing from back when I was a baby or something. But I don’t know if I’ve ever been more wrong about anything in my entire life. I didn’t think the guy would ever beat Ohio State, I said it on your show a couple of years ago, if I live to be 150, and I’m getting close. But the point being, this is truly remarkable. And I don’t want to be wrong about something, Greeny, you never want to be wrong, but if you’re going to be epically wrong, at of this constellation, out of this universe wrong, I’ll take it.
“And I think Jim Harbaugh has silenced all those who doubted him in the early days. I’m not talking about what happened this year, that’s a whole different story. But in the end, he has proven everyone wrong.”