Michigan might sitting at 7-2 on the season and No. 14 in the College Football Playoff rankings right now, but it’s still not nearly where most thought this team would be in early November. This was the year the Wolverines were supposed to get over the hump, beat Ohio State, win the B1G title and compete for a national title.

A sluggish start to the season, issues with ball security, a sputtering offense and injuries derailed those plans. A 35-14 loss to Wisconsin shattered Michigan’s credibility early in the year. A 28-21 defeat at the hands of Penn State all but eliminated Jim Harbaugh’s bunch from the B1G title race.

Yet there’s still something to look forward to down the final stretch of the season. With games against Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State left on the slate, there’s still a lot for Michigan to play for in the final month.

If the Wolverines play the way they have the last 10 quarters, Kirk Herbstreit believes it could be a really fun three-game stretch in November for the Maize and Blue.

“[Michigan has played] 10 straight quarters of being the team a lot of people thought they’d be all year,” Herbstreit said on a conference call, according to Angelique Chengelis of the Detroit News. “If they keep playing like they have the last 10 quarters, it’s going to be great football.”

Michigan flipped a switch in the second half against Penn State on Oct. 19, overcoming a 21-0 deficit to claw back into the game and have a shot to tie it in the fourth quarter. But an upset bid fell short, as the Wolverines dropped a 28-21 decision to the Nittany Lions.

The following week, Michigan obliterated Notre Dame 45-14 in Ann Arbor. Last Saturday, the Wolverines defeated Maryland 38-7. It’s looked like a completely different team.

While Michigan may not be knocking on the door of a College Football Playoff birth or a B1G title, it still has a chance to win three rivalry games in the final five games of the season — a feat that would earn Harbaugh some of credibility back.

Herbstreit may not have guaranteed any victories in those games, but if Michigan plays as well as it has the last 10 quarters, the Wolverines have a shot at hitting 10 wins again, and potentially pulling off a big upset.