Paul Finebaum signs multi-year ESPN contract extension ahead of 2024 college football season

College football analyst Paul Finebaum has signed a contract extension with ESPN ahead of the 2024 college football season. ESPN announced on August 1 that the company secured a multi-year contract extension with Finebaum, host of SEC Network and ESPN Radio.

“I consider myself incredibly blessed to be a member of this talented team at ESPN and get to do what I do on a daily basis,” said Finebaum. “I’d like to thank everyone at ESPN, as well as our loyal listeners and viewers, for their continued support."

Finebaum is a key analyst for college football as he's the host of The Paul Finebaum Show and a commentator on SEC Nation.

“Over the years, Paul has demonstrated time and time again that he is one of the leading voices across college football,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN President of Content. “The connection he has built with his listeners, viewers, fans and the media who cover college sports is unmatched. We look forward to Paul continuing to bring his signature commentary to SEC Network and ESPN programming.”

Finebaum has been with ESPN since 2013.

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Paul Finebaum thinks Michigan could make the playoffs

Although Paul Finebaum is known for his SEC takes, the ESPN analyst thinks the reigning national championship Michigan Wolverines could make the college football playoffs despite all the changes.

Michigan lost Jim Harbaugh to the NFL, while also losing the likes of JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum to the NFL draft, among others. However, despite that, Finebaum thinks Michigan still could make the college football playoffs despite all the changes.

“I think they have a shot. Right now, I would take them,” Finebaum said on First Take (via WolverinesWire). “And to do that really — they’re gonna have to change the outcome of a couple games that they’d be favored to lose. They’ve got an early game the second week against Texas — which will be a top-three or four team. They have Oregon later in the year at home — another top-three team."

"Obviously, we know about Ohio State at the end. And I think if they can win either Texas, Oregon, or Washington, they can finish 10-2. They have to win two of those, by the way, because I don’t think they’ll beat Ohio State. I think 9-3, depending on where the wins are, this would probably be the rare team that could make the playoff with more than two losses.”

Michigan does have a tough schedule and is +125 to make the college football playoffs.