He's not impressed.
Paul Finebaum Names College Football Powerhouse That's 'Slightly Better than Average' originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2024 college football season was disappointing for many top programs, following a strong 2023 season.
The Michigan Wolverines experienced a truly remarkable 2023 season, finishing 15-0 and winning their first national championship since 1997. However, the 2024 season brought a different story, as Michigan ended the year with a record of 8-5 in the first season under head coach Sherrone Moore.
Moore took over as head coach from Jim Harbaugh, who departed for the NFL following the national championship season. Previously, Moore served as the offensive coordinator. The season concluded positively, as the Wolverines defeated the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes 13-10 for the fourth consecutive year and secured a 19-13 victory against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
Despite a strong finish, SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum expressed skepticism about Michigan's prospects for the season on "The Paul Finebaum Show."
"I think Michigan is slightly better than average," Finebaum said.
Finebaum did not specify why he is not high on Michigan this year. It could be due to last year's disappointing season and the fact that the Wolverines are starting true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood this season.
During the spring game, Underwood had a mixed performance, completing 12 of 26 passes for 187 yards. His most notable play was an impressive 88-yard pass to tight end Jalen Hoffman on a reverse flea flicker.
Along with his passing attempts, Underwood faced some challenges during the game. He fumbled the ball once but was able to recover it. He also committed two delay-of-game penalties and made several inaccurate throws, resulting in a few passes being dropped. Additionally, he lost 12 yards on two sacks but gained 17 yards on three rushing attempts.
According to ESPN's Football Power Index (FPI), Michigan is ranked as the No. 17 team in the nation and No. 4 in the Big Ten. The FPI gives Michigan a 25.3% chance of making the College Football Playoff this season.
The Wolverines are scheduled to open their season at home against the New Mexico Lobos on Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Related: David Pollack Names Major College Football Program Set to Bounce Back After Down Year
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
