The National Champion Is 'Not Relevant,' Paul Finebaum Said, and Kyle Whittingham Just Bet His Career On It

Alright, Seattle! You gotta hear this, because college football analyst Paul Finebaum just dropped a truth bomb so big it practically leveled Ann Arbor. We're talking about the *national champions*, folks, and Finebaum isn't just questioning them, he's basically writing off Michigan as "not relevant" right now. He pulled no punches, bringing up those nasty sign-stealing accusations from their title season three years ago. Ouch!

Finebaum's Brutal Takedown of a Recent Champ

Seriously, can you believe the audacity? This is the program that just won it all in 2023! But according to Finebaum, that whole championship felt like ancient history the second Jim Harbaugh jetted for the NFL. He said straight up on his show, "They're just not that relevant." He even added, "I can't get upset about Michigan. They cheated and stole a national championship three years ago." That's a gut punch! Finebaum's basically saying that after Harbaugh left, and with all the sign-stealing drama, the program just "flatlined." Remember, after that 'ship, they struggled big time for two seasons, and then coach Sherrone Moore got the boot. It's a rough look for a team that was just on top of the world.

Kyle Whittingham's Risky Play to Bring Back Glory

But hold u

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p, because there's a new sheriff in town, Kyle Whittingham, and he's not about to let Finebaum's shade define his new gig. Finebaum might not be "sold" on Michigan's future success, but Whittingham is all-in. He apparently took the Michigan job instead of retiring from Utah, where he coached for two decades, racking up a record 177-88 wins. The man is 66 years old, and he's stepping into a pressure cooker, but he sees it as his "final challenge." He straight up said Michigan is "a special place, a legitimate opportunity to win a national championship." This guy never won a national title at Utah, so you know he's hungry for that ring! He's gambling his legacy on turning this program around despite the tough road ahead. It's a huge gamble for Whittingham, and the stakes are ridiculously high. Michigan's got tough matchups against Oklahoma, Penn State, Indiana, Oregon, and Ohio State this season, even with the first three games at home. They're sitting at 15th-best odds to win the national title at +4000, and a 28.6% chance to make the playoffs at +250. Can Whittingham prove Finebaum dead wrong and get this team back into contention? We'll start finding out on September 5th when they kick off at home against Western Michigan, before a massive Week 2 showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners. You know we'll be watching to see if this "irrelevant" team can shock the world again!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.