Paul Finebaum: Jim Harbaugh 'leaving behind a mess' at Michigan, clouding his impact on college football

Jim Harbaugh finished off his time at Michigan with three straight Big Ten titles and a national championship. However, there were plenty of not-so-great moments during his nine years in Ann Arbor, too.

The new head coach of the Chargers was 49-22 in his first six seasons at Michigan, with zero Big Ten titles or College Football Playoff appearances. He is also leaving college football with Michigan involved in two separate NCAA investigations.

ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum joined First Take Thursday morning and shared what impact Jim Harbaugh leaving has on college football.

“I think it’s a positive, frankly, and I hate to interrupt the coronation here of a new Pope, but let’s remember a couple of things about Jim Harbaugh, my friends. He was at Michigan nine years. The first six years weren’t exactly virtuoso,” Finebaum said. “He nearly got fired. … The last three years were brilliant. Everyone agrees with that. That’s why we’re celebrating him today, and we should celebrate him. But he’s leaving behind a mess.

“I realize he won the national championship and that’s so easy to celebrate, but there are two separate NCAA investigations ongoing and will be adjudicated, and in some ways, I think that’s a positive for Michigan that without him around, they will probably skate much easier in the new modern world of the NCAA.”

Finebaum added that there are other positives about the timing of Harbaugh leaving Michigan. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore did an excellent job filling in for Harbaugh while he was suspended for six games during the 2023, and Moore is widely expected to be promoted to head coach.

With that taking place, Finebaum expects Michigan’s roster to stay mostly intact moving forward.

“Michigan is going to be OK. Sherrone Moore is going to be elevated in a couple of days, once they meet the legal requirement. He did a spectacular job on the field. … The players like him,” Finebaum said. “The biggest change for Michigan, they will probably hold on to most of their roster, unlike Alabama, who in the last two weeks has seen massive carnage.”

Ultimately, Finebaum isn’t surprised that Harbaugh picked now to return to the NFL and the Chargers. He feels that Harbaugh’s goal has always been to win a Super Bowl.

“He was larger than life. And with Nick Saban exiting two weeks ago, Jim Harbaugh was the biggest name in the game. From a marquee value, the sport loses that, especially now that the Big Ten has added the four Pac-12 members,” Finebaum said. “I think he always wanted to go. He never quite got over, in my estimation, losing the Super Bowl.

“He said two weeks ago in Houston, ‘Now I’m at the big boy table. I’m with my brother. My father won a championship, as well.’ I think that was what drove Jim Harbaugh. But I don’t want to take anything away from the last three years.”