Paul Finebaum predicts Michigan will miss College Football Playoff, champions Ohio State as 'team to beat' in Big Ten
The world has turned upside down for Michigan over the last 24 hours, and Paul Finebaum is piling on.
On Tuesday, it was reported by Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports that Jim Harbaugh was likely going to be suspended for the first four games of the regular season for the Wolverines. In light of that news and examining Michigan’s potential for 2023, Finebaum served up one of his usual hot takes on ESPN’s Get Up on Wednesday.
Evidently, Finebaum doesn’t have any confidence in Michigan making it back to the College Football Playoff this season.
“I say no,” Finebaum answered, asked by Mike Greenberg if Michigan is a Playoff team in 2023. “They’re capable of it, and they have everything you need to get there, but I think Lady Luck is going to go against them this time.
“I think the team to beat in the Big Ten is Ohio State, and I think ultimately that’s where Michigan moves from inside the cutline to outside.”
That’s going to sting for Michigan fans to hear. Even though Finebaum doesn’t control what happens in college football, he’s a prominent voice, and it’s never fun to hear how much they believe in your biggest rival over you.
Nevertheless, it’ll all be settled on the field. Even with Jim Harbaugh potentially missing the first month of the season, many will still believe in the Wolverines, for better or worse.
More on Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Wolverines
Continuing, Jim Harbaugh’s suspension has yet to be official, but is expected per Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger. Harbaugh’s attorney Tom Mars released a statement, which can be read HERE.
Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and and tight ends coach Grant Newsome are expected to receive one-game suspensions as well.
“A quick resolution broke down in January after Harbaugh refused to admit that he lied to NCAA staff,” Dellenger wrote regarding Harbaugh. “The 59-year-old coach has maintained he didn’t recall the events when first speaking with investigators but that he was never purposefully dishonest.”
Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who’s now with the Baltimore Ravens in the same position, is expected to receive a one-year show cause.
“Harbaugh’s alleged initial cover-up was worse than the crime itself from the NCAA’s perspective,” Dellenger wrote. “In a notice of allegations sent to Michigan last year, the association cited four Level II violations, including meeting with two recruits during a COVID-19 dead period, texting a recruit outside of an allowable time period, having analysts perform on-field coaching duties during practice and having coaches watching players work out via Zoom.”
According to the report, Harbaugh acknowledged the program committed Level II violations but refused to sign any document or publicly state he was untruthful. But as Dellenger put it, the negotiated resolution is a “signal” the coach acknowledged he was partially dishonest.
On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.