Ohio State Football: 3 takeaways from survival against Michigan

2. The rebuild at Michigan is still a work in progress for Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh’s team has put in a valiant effort all season long. The Wolverines entered 2017 with one of the youngest teams in the entire country, after losing over a dozen starters from last year’s squad. Contending for the Big Ten was always going to be a longshot, but things got even tougher when starting quarterback Wilton Speight was injured early in the season.

In its regular-season finale against rival Ohio State, the Wolverines put in an impressive first half. But inexperience and a lack of depth ultimately proved costly for Michigan, as they ran out of steam in the upset bid against the Buckeyes.

In the first half, Michigan traded punches with the Buckeyes. But they also failed to capitalize on key opportunities, such as a surefire interception that was dropped a few plays before Barrett ran in for Ohio State’s first touchdown of the game. A blocked extra point took the wind out of their sails after the Wolverines took the lead in the third quarter.

A bowl game still lies in the future for the Wolverines. And this season helped build valuable experience for the first few Harbaugh recruiting classes. But the rebuilding efforts are still incomplete in Ann Arbor. Michigan proved in 2017 that they remain behind other Big East contenders like the Buckeyes, Penn State, and Michigan State.