College Football Analyst Calls Historic Program No Longer 'Relevant'
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College football analyst Paul Finebaum didn't hold back on his thoughts on the University of Michigan and its football program.
Michigan won the national championship for the 2023 season, but after the win, Jim Harbaugh went to the NFL, and the program was accused of stealing signs. The program struggled in the next two seasons, and Sherrone Moore ended up being fired as the head coach.
Although the Wolverines went out and hired Kyle Whittingham as their head coach, Finebaum still isn't sold and doesn't think the program is relevant.
"I'm well aware Michigan won the national championship in basketball," Finebaum said on the latest episode of The Paul Finebaum Show. "Not that that's really a big issue here, but I don't really take Michigan that seriously in football right now. And maybe, maybe that will change under Kyle Whittingham, but it's hard — just hard to get much emotion.
"Once Harbaugh left, it felt like that program just flatlined. They're just not that relevant. And I'm sorry. I can't get upset about Michigan. They cheated and stole a national championship three years ago."
It's a bold take from Finebaum, who doesn't think the Wolverines will have much success in 2026 under Whittingham.
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Michigan does have some tough games against Oklahoma, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State, but the first three games will all be at home.
So, even if the Wolverines can go 3-2 in those games and win the rest of the games, Michigan could very well be a playoff team again next season. Yet, Finebaum doesn't think the Wolverines will have much success.
Michigan enters the season with the 15th-best odds of winning the national title at +4000, while the Wolverines have odds of +250 to make the playoffs, which implies a 28.6% chance.
Kyle Whittingham Believes He Can Win Title At Michigan
Although Finebaum doesn't think Michigan will have success in college football this season, Whittingham disagrees.
Instead, Whittingham said the reason he took the Michigan job instead of retiring, which many thought he would, was because he felt he could win the national title with the Wolverines.
"Michigan is a special place — a legitimate opportunity to win a national championship," Whittingham said at his introductory press conference on Dec. 28. "It has happened here. So, I looked at it as a final challenge."
Whittingham stepped down at Utah after serving as their head coach from 2005 until 2025, and is the all-time leader in wins for the program. The now 66-year-old went 177-88 with the Utes, but never won a national championship, which he hopes to do at Michigan.
Whittingham's first game as the Wolverines coach will take place on Sept. 5 at home against Western Michigan before a pivotal Week 2 showdown against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Related: Report Reveals Why Dusty May Left Michigan For Dallas Mavericks Job
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Jun 29, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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