Paul Finebaum shocked by how Jim Harbaugh outcoached Nick Saban in CFP semifinal

In a rare occurrence, Jim Harbaugh outcoached Nick Saban in the Rose Bowl to get Michigan to the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Those are Paul Finebaum’s words Tuesday morning and it’s not a slight on Harbaugh. It was just surprising to see Saban go down like that, per the ESPN analyst.

But Harbaugh will keep the magical season going and coach for a title next week.

“That’s exactly what happened Greeny,” Finebaum said of Saban being outcoached on Get Up. “And being around a bunch of analysts on the field during the game, that’s what I kept hearing from them. And by the end of the game, you can pick a million places if you want. Obviously, players have to execute as I know you’ve already said, but ultimately you expect Nick Saban to out coach everyone, especially Jim Harbaugh.”

Finebaum was a noted critic of Harbaugh throughout the entire season, especially when the sign-stealing allegations broke midseason.

“The one that some of us have maligned and wondered about and pointed out his postseason record, and to see that happen, it was quite frankly, shocking,” Finebaum said. “I have the utmost respect as all of you do for Nick Saban. We know his record, we don’t need to regurgitate it. But yesterday, Nick Saban was out coached by Jim Harbaugh.”

Finebaum couldn’t put it all on Saban being outdone by Harbaugh. Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees deserved some criticism as well.

“I was underwhelmed Greeny,” Finebaum said. “And this was a guy that a lot of us were questioning after the Texas Game On September 9 and then the next week we all know what happened. He pulled Jalen Milroe and he went through the second and third team, especially the guys he brought with him, Tyler Buchner from Notre Dame who’s now about to leave Alabama to play lacrosse. 

“And he really was able to figure out a lot of things, namely, the offensive line got very good and by the time we got to Georgia a couple weeks ago, they were great. What we saw last night was the offensive line of the Texas game. And I don’t it’s hard to to really put into words the morning after, but Tommy Rees does not dial up a very good game. He didn’t adjust very well. And when it came down to the biggest play of the year, he failed.”

Chalk it all up and Harbaugh outdid Saban on one of the biggest stages in the sport. He’ll coach one time this season and try to get his first national title.