Is Jim Harbaugh the best coach to not win a national championship?

Jim Harbaugh is now heading into his eighth full season as the head coach of the Michigan football program. In the seven years prior to Harbaugh’s tenure, Michigan compiled a depressing 46-42 overall record, with only one 10-win season. While Harbaugh has yet to capture a national championship with the Maize and Blue, his track record in Ann Arbor has been stellar thus far.

Is Jim Harbaugh the best college coach to not win a national championship?

During his time as head coach, Harbaugh has achieved a 74-25 overall record with five 10-win seasons, six ranked finishes, a pair of Big Ten titles, and two-straight College Football Playoff appearances. In fact, when Harbaugh was hired, Michigan was coming off a 5-7 season, but he immediately led them to a 10-win season.

As the 2023 season approaches, Michigan football appears poised to make a push for the program’s first national championship since 1997. Recently, 247 Sports released its rankings of the top head coaches in college football who have not won a national championship, and Jim Harbaugh claimed the No. 1 spot.

Notably, Harbaugh’s top ranking puts him above Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, who took over an incredible program in 2019 but has experienced a steady decline since then. Over the past two seasons, the Buckeyes’ 8-game winning streak against Michigan has turned into a pair of blowout losses. Additionally, Day’s 1-3 playoff record does not bode well for his resume in this race.

That said, Jim Harbaugh needs to take the next step this year. The Wolverines are on the cusp of success, but Harbaugh’s program remains winless in the CFP and lacks a national title in the modern era of college football. Both of these things could change in the upcoming season.

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