Ohio State Football: Harbaugh is overrated but we need UM to be good

Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh might be one of the most overrated coaches in college football, but Ohio State needs Michigan to be good.

Many people thought the Ohio State-Michigan rivalry was back when the school hired Jim Harbaugh to be their next head coach in December 2014. Heck, there was even a book published in 2015 about how Michigan football was back.

It’s safe to say, however, that Harbaugh’s time in Michigan has so far been very disappointing for those fans up north, especially with all the talk he seems to do in the offseason.

While I do think he has been extremely overrated with his 0-4 record against the Buckeyes, 1-9 record against top-10 opponents and five losses by at least 21 points, according to the Toledo Blade’s Kyle Rowland, I think we absolutely still need the Wolverines to be good.

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As of right now, Ohio State has the 25th toughest strength of schedule in the nation, according to TeamRankings.com. The Buckeyes moved down two spots after the Wolverines got blown out by the Badgers Saturday and their schedule was originally ranked the fifth toughest in the country before the season began, you know before Michigan struggled to beat Army.

I wonder how much more their strength of schedule will drop if the Wolverines lose one or two more games.

Additionally, the one year Ohio State made the College Football Playoff since Harbaugh has been at Michigan, OSU won 30-27 in two overtimes and UM was ranked No. 3 in the country. Beating a top-five team is certainly a resume-builder.

Right now, if Ohio State has one loss at the time they pick the College Football Playoff teams there is a slight chance they get in. With one loss and if the Wolverines were actually a worthy opponent they earned a W over, though, it would almost be certain the Buckeyes would get in.

I love seeing Michigan lose, and I love seeing Harbaugh sad with all the stuff he talks, but we actually need to root for the Wolverines to be better than they have been. The better Michigan plays, the higher chance Ohio State has at playing in the College Football Playoff.