Michigan Football: 3 takeaways from brutal loss to Penn State

1. Jim Harbaugh’s future is uncertain

I always think it is strange to talk about people’s job securities, as there is so much we don’t know in terms of how the job is being executed. For all we know, the coaches are doing a great job, and the players are not executing. Maybe it is vice versa.

But when we are talking about college football we are talking about a business of wins and losses. So, with Michigan now stuck at 2-4 and an Ohio State matchup on the horizon, what does Jim Harbaugh’s future look like?

Well if we are talking just wins and losses, it is a no brainer that Harbaugh has done enough to stay. From 2008-2014, Michigan was 46-42 under Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke. Michigan is 49-22 with Harbaugh as head coach and has three 10-win seasons in that time period.

The problem is when you really break down that record. If you do, you will see that Michigan under Harbaugh is:

• 0-5 against Ohio State
• 3-3 against Michigan State
• 11-16 against ranked teams
• 2-12 against top 10 teams
• 1-4 bowl record
• Has 0 Big Ten Championship appearances

These are not good numbers when comparing against the main rivals and the elite of college football. The fact of the matter is, Harbaugh has done a good job in rebuilding the Michigan program. But even in doing so, he has yet to win the signature games that Michigan fans and alumni are dying to win.

So it will come down to this, would Michigan like to stay with the stable program Harbaugh has instilled and hope for results down the line? Or would they roll the dice and see if somebody can come in and immediately win the big games Harbaugh has not been able to.

With a five-star quarterback waiting in the wings, the decision makers at Michigan will be making a very important call when it comes to Jim Harbaugh in 2021 and beyond.