Michigan opens its 2024 title defense ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll . While it’s a noticeable dip following an undefeated season, Paul Finebaum believes the Wolverines may not warrant a top-10 spot.
ESPN’s college football analyst discussed Monday’s ranking release in a “Fine or Not Fine” segment on SportsCenter . When Matt Barrie asked about Michigan’s placement, Finebaum shrugged before tentatively declaring he’s “not that fine with that.”
“To me, Michigan is a marginal playoff team. I think they’re living off the past here,” Finebaum said. “Jim Harbaugh is gone, and he’s not coming back, in case you missed last week. I think they should’ve been a little bit lower.”
Harbaugh jumped ship to the NFL after steering Michigan to a national championship. Meanwhile, JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum were among the 13 Wolverines players drafted in April.
Sherrone Moore must navigate a new-look roster through three top-five opponents in his first full season as head coach. Michigan hosts No. 4 Texas in Week 2 before playing No. 3 Oregon and No. 2 Ohio State in November.
No. 1 Georgia is among the four SEC teams (Texas, No. 5 Alabama, and No. 6 Ole Miss) ahead of Michigan in the poll. The Wolverines rank fourth among Big Ten schools, as Penn State resides at No. 8.
Michigan could quickly drop down the AP poll with early losses to Texas and No. 23 USC, but it’s already the lowest ranking of a defending champion since Auburn in 2011.
Related: Michigan Football Makes History With Low Preseason Top 25 Ranking