Ranking all eight of Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football teams

7. 2017

Oct 21, 2017; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback John O’Korn (8) throws a pass during the fourth quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Michigan 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Harbaugh’s second-worst football team was his 2017 squad, which despite being one of the youngest teams ever assembled, still came into the season with a great deal of hype. The Wolverines were ranked No. 11 heading into the season, and with a Week 1 victory over No. 17 Florida (33-17), the Wolverines jumped as high as No. 7 in the polls before losing to Michigan State at home.

Michigan’s 4-0 start soon vanished — the Wolverines’ starting quarterback, Wilton Speight, went down with an injury, and Michigan would never recover. Michigan football lost to No. 2 Penn State (42-13) before stringing together a three-game winning streak. Michigan pulled itself to 8-2 on the season, though it could not overcome its final three opponents (No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 8 Ohio State, and South Carolina) and dropped to 8-5 on the season.

Still, an 8-4 season (plus a bowl loss) isn’t bad if that’s a “down year” in Ann Arbor.

FINAL RECORD: 8-5 (5-4 Big Ten), loss to South Carolina in Outback Bowl.