Michigan Football: Jim Harbaugh once again on hot seat

Even with significant improvement, the schedule could hinder Wolverines from realizing potential

Michigan football is going to play one of the toughest schedules in the country and it could prevent Michigan from having the kind of season that their fans want out of Jim Harbaugh. I think there is a good possibility that this is one of those teams that is much better than their record indicates.

• Game 1: Western Michigan (W)- The Broncos have a really good offense, but Michigan is much more talented than WMU.
• Game 2: Washington (W)- This is a pivotal game for Harbaugh and I think he will find a way to win it at home vs a Washington team that has quarterback questions of their own.
• Game 3: Northern Illinois (W)- NIU is going through a rebuild and Michigan will win this one rather easily.
• Game 4: Rutgers (W)- Rutgers is trending in the right direction, but they overachieved last season and I think they will come back down to earth this season.
• Game 5: At Wisconsin (L)- Michigan can’t seem to beat Wisconsin and I think this is a really good Badgers squad this season.
• Game 6: At Nebraska (L)- I think Nebraska will get to a bowl game this year under Frost and I think they can pull the upset here at home.
• Game 7: Northwestern (W)- The Wildcats had a great season and Pat Fitzgerald is a great coach, but with so many starters gone, it will be tough to replicate last season’s success.
• Game 8: At Michigan State (W)- The Spartans always find a way to beat the Wolverines, but I think Michigan can reverse that trend this season.
• Game 9: Indiana (W)- The Hoosiers are getting a lot of hype this season, but I think they are overrated and due for some regression this season.
• Game 10: At Penn State (L)- I think the Nittany Lions are the second-best team in the Big Ten East this season and will win this one at home.
• Game 11: At Maryland (W)- Maryland could have a dangerous offense, but their defense leaves a lot to be desired.
• Game 12: Ohio State (L)- This is the game all Michigan fans will judge Harbaugh on and I just can’t see it happening this year. Ohio State is perhaps the most talented roster in college football outside of Alabama and Michigan is just not on that level right now.

Final Record: 8-4, 5-4 Big Ten

I know Michigan fans will not want to hear this, but I think this is an acceptable record in 2021. The quarterback position is young and I think if either McNamara or McCarthy shows they can be the future of the program, that would be the biggest win of the season.

There are just too many tough games to expect more than eight or nine wins and with such a tough schedule, 7-5 or 6-6 is not totally out of the question.