Ohio State Football: Could Harbaugh’s job be on the line Saturday?
By David Wysong
The Jim Harbaugh era at Michigan started with a lot of hype but could his job ride or die on the outcome of their game against the Ohio State football team?
It’s time for “The Game” as the Ohio State football team takes on their archrival, the Michigan Wolverines on Saturday. While the Buckeyes could have a trip to the College Football Playoff riding on this game, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh could have his job riding on it.
Harbaugh came to Michigan in December of 2014 and there was a lot of hype around his hiring. Harbaugh was a Michigan man as he played there in college and he had just left his head coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers where he went to three NFC Championship Games and had one Super Bowl appearance.
So far, he has not yet lived up to the hype.
Despite UM fans always having College Football Playoff aspirations, the best record Michigan has had under Harbaugh is a 10-3 record three different times. The Wolverines have yet to reach a Big Ten Championship Game – and they won’t go to one this season as Ohio State has already clinched the East Division title – they are 1-3 in bowl games and have lost three straight, and lastly, they are 0-4 against the Buckeyes.
While they certainly have had more success than when Brady Hoke was head coach as he went 8-5, 7-6, and 5-7 in his last three seasons there, and more success than when Rich Rodriguez was there as they went 3-9, 5-7, and 7-6 in his three seasons there, they are still not living up to expectations.
The university brought Harbaugh in so he could put Michigan up there with the Alabama’s and Clemson’s of the world, and so they could definitely beat Ohio State at least once. If Michigan loses on Saturday, then Harbaugh will be 0-5 against the Buckeyes – that’s not a good look.
My only question is who would be a good option to replace Harbaugh? Bob Stoops? I don’t think he’s going to coach college football again anytime soon. Les Miles? LSU let him go for a reason. Or, could they go after a young guy like Luke Fickell, à la Minnesota and their hiring of P.J. Fleck? Nebraska also did that with Scott Frost and that has yet to work out, so sometimes hiring young coaches are a 50/50 shot.
Next. The Game is most important thing in the world. dark
Personally, I think Harbaugh gets at least one more season win or lose but I am still not too confident in that statement. If the Wolverines lose to the Buckeyes on Saturday, this could be the end of the Harbaugh era in Michigan.