Overview
- On Friday and Saturday this week Jake Butt, a former Michigan tight end turned broadcaster, said the program's 2023 national championship 'has an asterisk' while criticizing the team's performance and later clarified his remarks after heavy fan backlash.
- Reports differ on where Butt made the original comment, with coverage attributing it to appearances on either Buckeye Scoop or The Film Guy Network, and Butt later defended his loyalty to Michigan on social media.
- Butt corrected a roster NIL figure he cited on air, revising the valuation from an initially mentioned $50 million down to $39 million in his follow-up statement.
- The comments landed against a backdrop of the NCAA finding that an off‑campus sign‑stealing scheme occurred during 2021–2023 and of penalties aimed mainly at coaches rather than vacating wins or imposing postseason bans.
- The episode sharpens scrutiny on Michigan's reputation and coaching, since a high‑value roster that Butt referenced is underperforming this season and fans remain sensitive to any language that echoes rival criticisms.