Paul Finebaum discusses if Michigan scandal could impact College Football Playoff, Jim Harbaugh's future

There’s no bigger story in college football than the sign-stealing saga that’s unfolding in Ann Arbor. With that said, Paul Finebaum already knows that it will only make so much of a difference in how this season could play out.

Finebaum spoke about the sign-stealing controversy at Michigan during ‘The Matt Barrie Show’ on Sunday. He said he didn’t expect to hear much from those in charge of the College Football Playoff on the matter but realizes that they will need to say something when the initial rankings come out this week.

“I think you just nailed what is the subplot of Tuesday night,” said Finebaum. “The committee chair will be asked about it. You know they’ve already got the typed-up answer and I doubt it’s going to tell us anything we don’t already know.”

To get into the actual issue, though, Finebaum had no problem with criticizing the morality of the matter. Even so, it has taken place in a time in the sport where he doesn’t think that many people will make much of it by the time it’s all said and done.

“As far as Michigan? This is a very sleazy, disgusting story,” said Finebaum. “There are leaks up there coming out left and right and every one makes the school look worse.”

“That’s on one ledger,” Finebaum continued. “But we’re also talking about a time in college football when people shrug their shoulders about everything because of NIL, because of the portal, because of all of the things that are going on.”

The biggest thing about this story is the fact that Michigan is one of the best teams in the nation, if not the best. Still, when it comes to the national conversation, Finebaum believes this will end up as an afterthought for the selection committee as this continues to play out off of the field.

“All I’m interested in now is can any of this stick? Does any of this really matter? And, quite frankly, I don’t think it does,” Finebaum stated. “I don’t think any of this is going to stick to Jim Harbaugh. I don’t think it’s going to influence or impact the College Football Playoff. That’s what we’re interested in.”

Multiple AP Poll voters drop Michigan amid sign-stealing investigation

Michigan football didn’t play this weekend as they took their annual bye. Even so, some AP Poll voters moved the Wolverines in their ballots anyway.

In fact, several voters removed Michigan from the top spot on their ballot in the wake of the sign-stealing investigation. Ten AP Poll voters that had Michigan ranked No. 1 last week dropped the Wolverines from the top spot.

In total, 13 of 63 AP Poll voters moved Michigan down on their ballots this week.

On the whole, Michigan’s lowest vote was at No. 6. Only one voter had the Wolverines that low. Meanwhile, two voters had Michigan at No. 5 and three voters had Michigan at No. 4.

Michigan had 37 voters pencil in the program at No. 2, while 11 had the Wolverines at No. 3. The Wolverines still received nine first-place votes.

While the AP Poll doesn’t have any direct influence on who reaches the College Football Playoff, perceptions in the sport are important. They can have a small but meaningful influence on the actual College Football Playoff selection committee, which determines the all-important berths.

Michigan is one of the favorites to earn a third straight CFP appearance, sign-stealing investigation or not. They currently stand at 8-0 on the season with four games to go in November.