Changing his tune? Paul Finebaum believes Michigan should be higher in Playoff rankings
One of the most prominent college football analysts in the nation believes No. 6 Michigan deserves to be ranked higher in the College Football Playoff rankings.
ESPN’s Paul Finebaum thinks the Wolverines should be ahead of undefeated No. 5 Cincinnati from the Group of Five.
Finebaum is effusive in his praise for the job Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has done this season to turn the program around during ESPN’s Get Up!
“I am loving some Jim Harbaugh right now. I think they are under-ranked. They should be ahead of Cincinnati. I just cannot imagine Cincinnati beating Michigan right now,” Finebaum said. “The Michigan State debate is for another day. We had that last week. They should be ahead of Cincinnati.”
"I think [Michigan at No. 6] is under-ranked. They should be ahead of Cincinnati. I just cannot imagine Cincinnati beating Michigan right now."
—@finebaum 👀 pic.twitter.com/PlZ5x1SjUJ
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 17, 2021
Cincinnati, who plays in the AAC, will eventually join the Big 12. The Bearcats defeated host Notre Dame on Oct. 2 in the only contest they’ve had vs. a ranked opponent.
Finebaum addressed the possibility of a two-loss B1G champion in the equation for the four-team playoff system.
“It would be complicated because it’s never happened before. But, depending on the circumstances, I would have no problem and I’m not sure this committee will either, because you play a schedule like that — compared to a schedule in the American — it’s not even comprehensible,” Finebaum said. “So, Ohio State did lose to Oregon at home and Cincinnati did go to Notre Dame (and win). But I think the schedule, after that, was far more brutal. Especially to end the season in Ann Arbor. Cincinnati has nothing on the schedule that can compare, other than that 1 game, to what the B1G is playing right now.”
Michigan is 9-1 overall and second place in the B1G East. Next up for the Wolverines is a road matchup at Maryland on Nov. 20 (3:30 p.m. EST/BTN). Michigan leads the all-time series 8-1 and is on a five-game winning streak vs. Maryland.