Paul Finebaum is back at it, and this time Michigan is the target.
The ESPN and SEC Network voice has never been shy about poking at fan bases, and on “The Film Guy Network” he singled out Michigan supporters as one group he doesn’t think is worth the energy. Finebaum said the Wolverines’ fans act like the sport centers on them, and he didn’t stop there.
"Michigan fans, they're not worth the time," Finebaum said. "They think college football revolves around them, and they've won two and a half national championships in 70 years, and they cheated to get the last one."
That’s the kind of line that will land hard in Ann Arbor, where pride has never been in short supply. Michigan has only three national championships, but the program still stands as the winningest in college football, which helps explain why its fan base carries itself the way it does.
The Wolverines are also stepping into a new era. The school moved on from head coach Sherrone Moore after the regular season last year because of off-the-field issues, then turned to longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham to take over. Whittingham spent 22 years with the Utes and finished with a 177-88 record.
Michigan is looking for the same kind of traits Whittingham built his reputation on: detail, toughness, discipline and defense. That was the blueprint for the Wolverines in 2023, when Jim Harbaugh led them to a national championship.
Year 1 may not be smooth, but the expectation is that Whittingham can steady the program and eventually get Michigan back to being a real factor again. If he can bring that same physical, disciplined edge from Utah to Ann Arbor, the Wolverines should stay in the national championship conversation.
Finebaum’s comments only add another flash point to his ongoing run-ins with Big Ten programs. For Michigan, though, the focus is on what comes next under Whittingham.
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Paul Finebaum Just Said What Ohio State Fans Love About Michigan
Paul Finebaum has never been shy about stirring the pot in the sports fiercest rivalry, and his latest comments fit right into that lane. During an interview on The Film Guy podcast, he took aim at Michigan football and its place in the college game, questioning how much weight to give the Wolverines recent success and suggesting their championship run carries baggage that still hangs over the program.
For Ohio State fans, the timing only sharpens the contrast. The Buckeyes just finished a national championship run of their own, one that came without the kind of controversy that continues to shadow Ann Arbor, and the rivalry is headed toward another round of scrutiny and noise. Finebaums remarks only add another layer to a matchup that already lives on edge, even if the bigger question is how much of this latest jab will matter once the games actually start. [Read more 🡒]