Paul Finebaum dismisses Big Ten powerhouse's chance to win Natty in 2025 after nightmarish showdown

ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum believes the Michigan Wolverines have a zero percent chance of winning the national championship. Michigan is coming off a 31-12 loss to the Texas Longhorns.

The Wolverines are the reigning national champions. They hosted Texas in a pivotal matchup in Week 2 in which the latter blew out Michigan. Following the loss, Finebaum said regarding Michigan's chances of repeating (via Athlon Sports):

"You are still the reigning national champions, although the chance of you winning it this year is officially zero."

Michigan's offense struggled against Texas as quarterback Davis Warren struggled to find open targets. The Wolverines lost too many people to the draft, and the loss to the Longhorns made it clear that Michigan is not the same team.

The Wolverines are +550 to make the playoffs after the loss to Texas. They have a 15.4% chance of making it.

Michigan Wolverines coach not panicking after loss

Although the Michigan Wolverines lost to Texas in Week 2, coach Sherrone Moore is not panicking.

Although it was a tough loss, the Wolverines can still win the Big Ten and make the playoffs. So, despite the loss, Moore says his team is not panicking and just focusing on improving.

"Yeah, I think the big thing I talked about with the team is it’s urgency. It’s not panic. The first time we’ve lost the game here since 2020 and the first time we’ve lost the in season game since 21, so it stings. It should sting, and stings everybody," Moore said on Monday, via WolverinesWire.

"A lot of guys haven’t lost a game here at our home stadium, and nobody likes that feeling. Coaches, players — the players take it the worst. People talk about the coaches and everybody else. But it’s really the players that are in the games that take it the worst."

Moore says he told the team they have a 24-hour rule: they forget about any win or loss after 24 hours. The Michigan Wolverines are set to host Arkansas State on Saturday. Michigan is a sizeable -22.5-point favorite.