Paul Finebaum Names ‘Rare’ Team That Can Make College Football Playoff With Three Losses

Michigan is fresh off a national championship victory in 2023, but things are not looking quite as optimistic for the Wolverines as we enter the 2024 college football season.

Sherrone Moore, who faces an incredibly difficult schedule in his first full year on the job, will be replacing Jim Harbaugh as head coach. In 2024, the Wolverines have games against Texas, USC, Washington, Oregon, and Ohio State.

ESPN's Paul Finebaum was asked if he thinks Michigan can navigate such a difficult schedule and make a return to the College Football Playoff this season. Fortunately for Michigan, 2024 is the first year of the 12-team CFP format, meaning a few hiccups along the way would not be an absolute deal-breaker. According to Finebaum, he thinks the Wolverines can actually withstand three of those hiccups.

"I think they have a shot," Finebaum said. "Right now, I would take them. And to do that really means they're going to have to change the outcome of a couple of games that right now they would be favored to lose. I mean, they've got an early game second week against Texas, which will be a top 3 or 4 team. They have Oregon later in the year at home, another top 3 team. Obviously, we know about Ohio State at the end."

In addition to losing Harbaugh, quarterback JJ McCarthy, running back Blake Corum, wide receiver Roman Wilson and most of their veteran offensive linemen have departed Ann Arbor for the NFL.

Finebaum believes that Michigan is the 'rare' team that can make it to the CFP even with three losses, which is how many he predicts the Wolverines will suffer. He also stated that Ohio State will exact revenge on Michigan this year for its three consecutive backbreaking losses.

"If they can win either Texas, Oregon or Washington, they can finish 10-2, but they might have to win two of those, by the way, because I don't think they're gonna beat Ohio State. I think 9-3, depending on where the win are, this would be probably the rare team that can make the playoff with more than two losses."

Kirk Campbell has taken over as offensive coordinator, replacing Moore. The Wolverines are still deliberating on their starting quarterback, with Alex Orji, Jack Tuttle, and Davis Warren competing for the position.

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