Paul Finebaum explains why CFP semifinal win over Alabama was 'defining moment for Jim Harbaugh'

Paul Finebaum doesn’t believe Alabama gave away the Rose Bowl victory. He believes Jim Harbaugh and Michigan took it. During an appearance on “First Take,” the SEC Network analyst weighed in on the Wolverines’ program-defining win.

“Ultimately, Jim Harbaugh made the fourth quarter adjustments. They won the fourth quarter and the overtime,” Finebaum said. “Nick Saban was out-coached. Now, that’s hard to say when we’re talking about somebody as great as Nick Saban, because you can pick and choose anywhere you want. But, ultimately, this was a defining moment for Jim Harbaugh, as many flaws as they had.”

Michigan’s players didn’t make it easy on head coach Jim Harbaugh. After holding Alabama to a three-and-out on its first possession of the game, Michigan return man Semaj Morgan muffed the punt, gifting possession right back to the Tide.

Four plays later, Alabama scored and took an early 7-0 lead. In the second quarter, Michigan put together a fantastic drive to secure a 13-7 lead. However, Michigan failed to convert its extra point due to a bobbled snap.

The mistakes didn’t stop there. With the game tied and a minute and a half left, Alabama had the ball. Again, Michigan’s defense stepped up, forcing a pivotal three-and-out. Nonetheless, history nearly repeated itself when Michigan muffed the punt before recovering it on the one-yard line.

Jim Harbaugh fights back against miscues

For every mistake Michigan made, Harbaugh had an answer. Finebaum believes the 60-year-old head coach deserves credit for the triumph.

“[Alabama was] up against a better team yesterday,” Finebaum said. “When we talk about Alabama, we always think they’re the best team. They weren’t the best team. They’re a good team, but they were an overachieving team, and I think it finally caught up to them where they ran into the bully yesterday.”

In the win, Michigan tallied 351 total yards of offense compared to Alabama’s mere 288. Additionally, the Wolverines were 2-2 on fourth-down conversions and only committed two turnovers in the game. Harbaugh never doubted his team was ready for the tumultuous battle.

“Adversity, that’s the adversity,” Harbaugh said after the win. “They train so hard, they practice so hard, they play so hard. It’s their individual mental toughness that gets them through, but it’s also someone. It’s also someone else, someone on the team, someone in their family, their teammate or teammates that’s just right there by their side, right there that has their back.”

Harbaugh won’t have to wait long to show off his coaching chop once again. On Monday, Michigan will square off against Washington at 7:30 p.m. ET in the College Football Playoff National Championship. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.