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Michigan football: The 3 simple words how Jim Harbaugh can save his job

By Steven Kubitza

ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the fourth quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI - OCTOBER 31: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on during the fourth quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium on October 31, 2020 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /
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Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh can repair his reputation and also keep his job at the program by doing one simple thing this season.

Jim Harbaugh has never had a losing season during his time coaching Michigan football. His worst finish was an 8-5 record in 2017 and he was won 10 games three times.

But we are now in 2020 and Harbaugh is on the hot seat after losing to Michigan State this past weekend. That is the same Spartans team that lost to Rutgers to open the season. Fans were angry and those within the program may be wondering if Michigan can ever reach the College Football Playoff with Harbaugh in charge.

Getting to the Playoff in 2020 is not going to happen after such a bad loss. But there is one thing Harbaugh can still do to keep his job and finally make Michigan a real contender. It’s as easy as three words: Beat Ohio State.

Harbaugh must take down the Buckeyes

The Big Ten is only playing an eight-game schedule in 2020. Some teams may not even play a full eight because of COVID-related shutdowns. Wisconsin is facing that reality and their November 14 game against Michigan could be in jeopardy.

This is a unique season. But there is still one thing Michigan can do to salvage the year even if they lose a few more games or have others canceled. Beating Ohio State in the season finale would be more than just another victory in the standings.

Such a win could potentially knock Ohio State out of the Playoff and would immediately signal a change at Michigan.

Harbaugh has not been able to take down his school’s rival in five previous attempts. Four of the five losses have come by double-digits and the other was the overtime thriller in 2016.

The most frustrating thing for Wolverines fans is they have seen great seasons be ruined by the inability to take down the Buckeyes. Michigan entered the 2016 matchup ranked No. 3 in the country and the school was ranked No. 4 in 2018, only to lose by the embarrassing final score of 62-39.

These losses have also prevented Michigan from getting to a Big Ten Championship Game. To make things worse, Michigan has lost four straight bowl games as well. So the end of every season under Harbaugh has ended in losing and extreme frustration.

He now has a chance to change the narrative in 2020. Finishing the year with a win over Ohio State would help the morale of everyone at Michigan and could tuck away the anger surrounding Harbaugh, at least for another season.

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