Jim Harbaugh took over a struggling Michigan football program back in late 2014. Over the previous seven seasons, the Maize and Blue had a poor 46-42 overall record with only a single 10-win season (2011) to show for it. Heading into 2023, Jim Harbaugh has his team playing their best football, claiming two straight Big Ten championships and much more over the previous two seasons. According to college football analyst JD Pickell, Harbaugh is “without question” a top 5 head coach in the sport as the Maize and Blue embark on a potential national title run this fall.
Jim Harbaugh is a top 5 head coach in college football, “without question”
In year one of Jim Harbaugh’s tenure with the Michigan football program, it was already apparent that the Wolverines were a brand new team. Michigan, which had finished the previous year with a 5-7 record, jumped into the top 15 with a 10-3 final record. While it took Harbaugh longer than expected to lead the Wolverines to conference titles and appearances in the College Football Playoff, he undeniably transformed a struggling program into one of the nation’s elite.
As the 2023 season approaches, Jim Harbaugh appears to have his strongest roster yet, and the team could be aiming for their first national title since Lloyd Carr’s win in 1997. According to analyst JD Pickell of ON3, Harbaugh is undoubtedly one of college football’s top 5 coaches.
“Look at what Jim Harbaugh has done just the last two seasons,” Pickell said on his podcast, ‘The Hard Count.’ “Just look at this — two Big Ten titles, two College Football Playoff appearances. Four different coordinators, give or take. Two different quarterbacks. Lost a lot to the NFL draft from 2021 to 2022. The common denominator in Michigan’s success is Jim Harbaugh
“So, a lot of excitement in Ann Arbor,” Pickell continued. “For good reason, but Jim Harbaugh — for me — without question a top 5 head coach in the game right now. He’s at No. 3 (for ON3). But we’ll keep an eye at where he’s at this time next year.”
Jim Harbaugh has a chance to win three in a row against Ohio State, win a third-straight Big Ten title game, and set a new Big Ten record with a third-straight College Football Playoff appearance this fall. There are high expectations in Ann Arbor right now, and rightfully so, and the Wolverines will be looked to for results throughout the months to come.
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