Paul Finebaum, Heather Dinich debate Michigan's top 10 ranking in AP Poll

Is Michigan a deserved top 10 team in the preseason edition of the 2024 AP Poll? Well, yes and no.

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum and Heather Dinich debated the Wolverines’ placement in Monday’s poll, which was a first look at the upcoming season. It’s a new era for Michigan under Sherrone Moore.

So, are the Wolverines rightfully placed?

“Too high,” Finebaum said on Get Up. “They’re living off of last year Greeny. I mean, they’re a good team in Sherrone Moore’s first full season. I think they’re around 9-3, which would not put them in the top 10 and would probably not get them into the playoffs.”

Dinich was not as harsh on Michigan, saying the team is what it is.

“I think Michigan is right where they’re supposed to be, which is a borderline Top 10 team,” Dinich said. “They have the potential to fall out, obviously, because of the schedule. But when you look at what Sherrone Moore did last year, he beat Ohio State and he beat Penn State, so while there’s a lot of turnover on that roster, particularly, offensively. I think there’s confidence, at least in the coaching staff, because he has proven some things already with Harbaugh on the sideline last year.”

Moore spoke about his first job being to succeed Harbaugh during his appearance at Big Ten Media Days in Indianapolis. Simply put, there’s no replacing him as the only person he can ever be is Sherrone Moore. 

That’s why he’s going to embrace that in his role by coaching as no one else but himself at Michigan.

“Yeah, it’s being me,” said Moore. “I can’t be Coach. I can’t be Jim Harbaugh and I never will be. So, for me, I just go as I go.

“I’m not going to change how I am. When I get excited, I’m going to get excited. When I want to yell smash, I’m going to yell smash. When I want us to play violent, I’m going to let our players know. That’s what I’m going to do. But, when I love them, I love them. When I feel like they need a hug, I’m going to give them a hug.”

Moore had spent the last six seasons as part of Michigan’s staff under Harbaugh. That included working with the tight ends, the offensive line, and both a co- and full-time offensive coordinator. He also notably had to serve for four games as the interim head coach due to two separate suspensions of Harbaugh.