For the first nine weeks—give or take—of the 2023 season, Michigan seemingly played no one. The Wolverines romped through an all-Group of Five non-conference schedule and a grab bag of the Big Ten's bottom-feeders.
From Nov. 11 onward, however, Michigan was dealt challenge after challenge. The Wolverines met No. 9 Penn State, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 18 Iowa, No. 5 Alabama and No. 2 Washington—and conquered them all en route to the national title.
Related: Order Your Michigan Wolverines National Championship Commemorative Issue
The run—despite the considerable controversy surrounding it—made believers of many a Michigan critic, including ESPN's Paul Finebaum.
"I don’t know if I’ve ever been more wrong about anything in my entire life," Finebaum said on Get Up Tuesday.
"I don’t know if I’ve ever been more wrong about anything in my entire life."
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 9, 2024
—@finebaum congratulates Michigan for winning the CFP #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/6HFU85QkES
Finebaum, long a vocal critic of the Wolverines, their coach and their fans, issued a mea culpa after the Wolverines’ 34–13 win over the Huskies in Monday’s national championship.
“I didn’t thin[k coach Jim Harbaugh] would ever beat Ohio State… if I live to be 150, and I’m getting close,” Finebaum said. “This is truly remarkable. I don’t wanna be wrong about something—you never wanna be wrong—but if you’re gonna be epically wrong, out-of-this-universe wrong, I’ll take it.”
Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports
Harbaugh, who oversaw a 2–4 team as recently as 2020, now has three straight wins over the Buckeyes, three straight Big Ten titles and a national title to his name with Michigan.
"I think Jim Harbaugh has silenced all those who doubted him in the early days," Finebaum said. "In the end, he has proven everyone wrong."
