The Michigan Daily asks "Would this be the best win of the Harbaugh era?"
Max Marcovitch in his Michigan Daily column actually makes a better case than I anticipated, in large part because the big wins on the resume aren't very big.
Then I turn on Zach Shaw's and Steve Lorenz's podcast. Shaw wants to open with dispelling the myth that Saturday's game is even all that important.
Honestly, I wasn't aware until just now of a lot "must win!" chatter. As Shaw points out, this is about the most okay-to-lose game on the schedule. Marcovitch acknowledges something similar as well.
But it would be, yes, Harbaugh's first road win with Michigan against a team that is ranked in the Coaches Poll! (MSU was ranked #24 in the AP last year but not Coaches Poll.) Also, his first win at Michigan as an underdog, as previously discussed on the board.
If "best" is defined as "most impressive," I'm hard pressed to find another one. Maybe the Citrus Bowl win over Florida.
September 20th, 2019 at 11:47 AM ^
wow ..So this Shaw says eh its ok to lose ? are you kidding me. This game is vital to this program. If you win it changes the entire perception that this program is a mess. If you lose the narrative continues nationally that Harbaugh is overrated and so is the program. Don't you want to shut people up ?? You will drop more in the polls. Michigan will be an after thought nationally . A loss is a disaster.
September 20th, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
It's not just Shaw, I think a lot of people understand this. If we lose, we still literally control our own destiny for the Big Ten and very likely still have a great shot at the CFP if we win out. In that context this is pretty far from must win, especially compared to other games on the schedule. Notre Dame is the only one that would arguably less important, although I've already argued that's more important because of the impact on the CFP resume.
The perception of this program and Harbaugh doesn't really rest on this game one way or the other by the time we get to the end of the season. If it's the only loss, it will be an amazing year.
September 20th, 2019 at 4:20 PM ^
I don't think we can run the table with a loss. C'Mon lets WIN forget about forgiving a loss
September 20th, 2019 at 11:57 AM ^
If it is a well played hard fought game I don't think Harbaugh will be criticized too heavily if they lose. The thing with UM's road losses under Harbaugh besides the beatdown against OSU last year is they were games that UM should have won, but they shot themselves in the foot in those games (ref nonsense against OSU playing a part to). The perception of the program nationally will take another hit if it is another road game that results in a loss because UM shot themselves in the foot.
September 20th, 2019 at 12:08 PM ^
the next one.
September 20th, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
If so, then that’s pretty sad. He’s had several opportunities to have huge wins and I can’t recall a single big win that he has had, aside from Wisconsin back in 2016 I think it was.
September 20th, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
Camp Randall is no joke...I’ll leave it at that
September 20th, 2019 at 1:28 PM ^
Easily the biggest win was 2016 over the eventual Big Ten Champion Penn St in absolutely dominating fashion 49-10. People always forgot how dominant of a game that was and come up with excuses for a team that had Barkely and Mcsorely.
September 20th, 2019 at 2:31 PM ^
Interesting. I always thought the coaches poll was irrelevant.
September 20th, 2019 at 4:14 PM ^
This is a must win. Iowa, Ped State and ND are all very losable if we shit the bed tomorrow.
September 21st, 2019 at 1:16 PM ^
lol where'd the Harbaugh Khaki washers go?