Paul Finebaum has built his reputation as one of the SEC Network’s most outspoken personalities, and he frequently takes shots at Big Ten heavyweights. One of his latest criticisms was aimed at Michigan’s fan base, which continues to be a familiar trend that has become a regular part of his commentary.
Paul Finebaum Reignites Michigan Feud With Brutal Comments on Wolverines Fans
Michigan is one of the most winningest programs in college football, but Finebaum has never hidden his criticism of the Wolverines, and the latest one came towards their fan base.
During SEC Media Days, Finebaum was asked by Brooks Austin to name the “most annoying college football fanbase.” He included Clemson fans in that grouping, and Michigan was his follow-up answer after aiming jabs at Dabo Swinney’s Tigers.
“Michigan fans, they’re not worth the time,” Finebaum said. “They think college football revolves around them, and they’ve won, I think, 2½ national championships in 70 years, and they cheated to get the last one.”
The cheat claim stems from the 2023 sign-stealing controversy involving former staff analyst Connor Stalions. The NCAA investigated Michigan over an alleged off-campus, in-person advanced scouting operation used to decode opponents’ play signals.
However, Michigan finished the season by defeating Ohio State, Alabama, and Washington after the scheme became public. Stalions was no longer with the program during that stretch, and then-head coach Jim Harbaugh also served suspensions for key regular-season games.
As for Finebaum, he has continued to criticize Michigan long after the scandal.
In an episode of “The Paul Finebaum Show” in June, a caller questioned why the Wolverines were absent from his list of most disliked programs, which featured schools such as Tennessee, Georgia, Ole Miss, and Alabama. His explanation was pretty blunt.
“I’m well aware Michigan won the national championship in basketball,” Finebaum began. “Not that that’s really a big issue here, but I don’t really take Michigan that seriously in football right now. And maybe, maybe that will change under Kyle Whittingham, but it’s hard — just hard to get much emotion.”
“Once [Jim] Harbaugh left, it felt like that program just flatlined…They’re just not that relevant. And I’m sorry. I can’t get upset about Michigan. They cheated and stole a national championship three years ago.”
Michigan fans are unlikely to appreciate Finebaum’s latest comments, but the 2026 season could give the Wolverines a chance to answer him on the field.
Former five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood saw an inconsistent freshman season in 2025, but Whittingham has worked to surround him with the coaching and support needed to accelerate his development.
If Underwood takes the expected leap and returns to the elite form that made him one of the nation’s top recruits, Michigan could re-emerge as a national contender. The Wolverines fan base would then have plenty of ammunition to push back against Finebaum’s criticism.
