Paul Finebaum: Jim Harbaugh will ‘bail out of Michigan any way, every way’ after 2023 season

Jim Harbaugh will officially serve this three-game suspension from the Big Ten following Michigan’s decision to not go to the court on the matter on Friday. With Harbaugh now set to miss seven of his team’s dozen games in the regular season, Paul Finebaum thinks enough might be enough for him in college football.

Finebaum addressed Harbaugh’s future during a segment of ‘Get Up’ on Friday. In his opinion, this investigation, although it may no longer implicate him directly, will be what pushes Harbaugh to leave this level and go back to the NFL.

“I do believe Jim Harbaugh is going to try to leave,” said Finebaum. “I think what Heather (Dinich) said is the most important thing. This may not involve him specifically but it could be pointing toward his staff and that reflects on him.”

Before his time in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh spent four seasons as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. In his 64 games at the helm, the franchise won 44, made the playoffs in three of the seasons, and made an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII.

Finebaum has since spent the past nine years at his alma mater in Michigan. Still, whether things were going poorly or going well, many understood that, at some point or another, his likely goal was to return to the pros one day.

Now, that day may soon be upon us. Finebaum believes so too based on how the latest scandal has unfolded against Harbaugh.

“I think he’ll bail out of Michigan any way, every way,” said Finebaum.

Finebaum: ‘Michigan lost this round very badly’

Michigan laid down their sword by electing to not go to court for the case involving the three-game of suspension of Jim Harbaugh. Now, in the aftermath, Paul Finebaum believes the Wolverines made the correct, and far more cautious, decision.

Finebaum spoke about the matter during a segment of ‘Get Up’ on Friday. In his eyes, Michigan realized what they were going to risk by going up against the conference. In the end, that’s why they played it safe for themselves by waving the white flag.

“I think cooler heads prevailed on the Michigan side,” said Finebaum. “They clearly got a read on where this was going and I think they were heading toward a disaster.”

“What I mean by that is once you got into an open, public court? You’re not really sure what’s going to fall out,” Finebaum explained. “I have a feeling that the Big Ten let the University of Michigan’s attorneys know that you’re taking a big risk. We’re going to drop the NCAA investigation’s information, the discovery – and this could prove to be far worse.”

It’s not necessarily a cowardly act to withdraw, especially when you know that your opponent might already have you beaten. However, Finebaum made it very clear that, with this part of the narrative over in Ann Arbor, this was no victory for Michigan.

“They took the hit now,” Finebaum said. “It’s not a win-win – Michigan lost this round very badly.”

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