On Monday, Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh announced that he will be staying in Ann Arbor despite the NFL rumors. For the Wolverines, this is great news seeing as it gives them their best shot at a National Championship heading into the 2023 football season.
Jim Harbaugh staying keeps the roster together
One of the few unquestionable truths in college football is that players commit to coaches, not to teams. All over the nation we are getting clear examples of this; most notably, Lincoln Riley, who seemingly brought the entire Oklahoma roster with him when he bolted to USC last offseason.
With rumors of Jim Harbaugh leaving, the fans and media knew that this could spell disaster for U-M in 2023.
With the addition of the transfer portal, many of the Wolverines’ star players would likely be on their way out the door if Harbaugh left Ann Arbor. On top of that, Michigan’s 9th-ranked transfer class, current recruiting classes, and much of its staff would also be looking to follow Harbaugh out the door if he would have left.
Seeing as Jim Harbaugh announced his return last night, we know that Michigan football is safe… for now. The Wolverines are back to trending for some big-name recruits, its portal class is still in tact, and its roster has many big-name starters (such as Blake Corum) returning.
Michigan’s momentum continues to build
In 2021, Michigan football established a new identity: smashmouth, tough, and gritty. The Wolverines kept coming at their opponents until they broke; they did this all the way through the Big Ten Championship game.
It worked in Michigan’s 21-17 win at Penn State, it worked in Michigan’s 42-27 win over Ohio State, and it worked in the Wolverines’ 42-3 win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship game.
In 2022, it worked even better as the Wolverines again won the Big Ten, beat Ohio State, and made the College Football Playoff. As we turn the page to 2023, one thing is clear: Michigan football needs to continue its momentum heading into this fall.
In 2021, Michigan finished 12-2 with a 23-point loss to UGA in the Orange Bowl. In 2022, Michigan football again lost in the College Football Playoff; however, this time it was a 6-point nailbiter to TCU. The Wolverines are getting closer, and in 2023, it could be Michigan’s turn to win a National Championship.
Jim Harbaugh saved Michgan, but it took time
Jim Harbaugh has now coached seven full seasons at the University of Michigan — the same number of seasons as the two coaches before him had to work with. Let’s compare Harbaugh to his predecessors.
Rich Rodriguez (2008-2010)
- 2008: 3-9
- 2009: 5-7
- 2010: 7-6
Brady Hoke (2011-2014)
- 11-2 (Sugar Bowl Champions)
- 8-5
- 7-6
- 5-7
Jim Harbaugh (2015-present)
- 2015: 10-3 (Citrus Bowl Champions)
- 2016: 10-3
- 2017: 8-5
- 2018: 10-3 (shared Big Ten East title)
- 2019: 9-4
- 2020: 2-4* (*COVID-19 season)
- 2021: 12-2 (Big Ten Champions, CFP)
- 2022: 13-1 (Big Ten Champions, CFP)
In seven full seasons as head coach, Jim Harbaugh has five 10-win seasons, two Big Ten Championships, three top-10 finishes, two top-3 finishes, six ranked finishes, and two CFP appearances.
To say the least, Harbaugh saved Michigan football from its dark ages. I am not trying to say that Jim Harbaugh was the only one that could do it, or that Harbaugh is the only one that can keep U-M at this level, but he is the one who DID do it, and Michigan football needs him right now.
This fall, Jim Harbaugh will likely have his best shot at winning a National Championship at Michigan. The Wolveirnes return most of their 2022 squad, many of its locker room leaders, its coaching staff, and more. Jim Harbaugh was Michigan’s final “infinity stone,” and heading into 2023, it is time for the Wolverines to snap their fingers and win it all for the first time since 1997.
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