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Michigan football: Jim Harbaugh has had a lot of ‘almost’ moments with Wolverines
By Adam Biggers
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Jim Harbaugh’s record vs. ranked teams and rivals is a well-known head-scratcher in college football. His Wolverines are always talented. They typically start well and feature star players. They looked like they were coming around, in regard to their rivalry with Michigan State.
In Year 2, Harbaugh had the Wolverines on the verge of the College Football Playoff.
Two moments — well, there were others, but these stand out — really decided the course of that should-have-been season.
Then, in 2015, an unlikely ending handed over the game to the Spartans, who won in stunning fashion as the clock expired in Ann Arbor.
This year, another baffling turn of events cost another game to MSU, which has won 2 in a row. But MSU hasn’t just been a Harbaugh problem, the Spartans have won 10 of the past 14. Harbaugh has been there for 7 years, and entering Saturday, had won 3 of 5 matchups.
But anyway, back to the point: Harbaugh has come so very close to achieving his ultimate goals, and those of a hungry fanbase that desperately wants to see a Michigan legend revive the football program.
The 2018 season, in general, was an “almost.”
If not for a slow first half, Michigan probably would have won its 2018 season-opener at Notre Dame. The Wolverines lost 24-17 but looked like the real deal for most of the second half, holding the Irish to just a field goal.
It was incredibly humid in South Bend that night, and many players later complained of cramps. Quarterback Shea Patterson suffered and had to leave the game. Backup Dylan McCaffrey didn’t do much, rushing for 22 yards and basically just trying not to make mistakes.
Blown coverage on a 43-yard TD toss by QB Brandon Wimbush to WR Chris Finke put the Irish up 14-7 in the first quarter, but the Wolverines later answered via a 99-yard kickoff return by Ambry Thomas.
That game was 1 or 2 plays away from being a big win for Michigan.
The Wolverines won 10 in a row before getting embarrassed by Ohio State, finishing the regular season at 10-2. For some reason, the Wolverines’ defense — coordinated by Don Brown — completely folded when facing the Buckeyes. Other teams never did that to Brown’s defense, which routinely ranked among the top 10 in the nation. Even after giving up massive amounts of yards and giving up 118 points in 2018 and 2019 (didn’t play in 2020), the Wolverines still held respectable overall defensive rankings.
They just couldn’t contend with OSU’s speed.
In 2016, the Wolverines’ College Football Playoff hopes were killed by a 14-13 loss at Iowa. Michigan led that game until Hawkeyes kicker Keith Duncan drilled a 33-yarder as time expired. Michigan led 10-8 at the half, then fell behind 11-8 in the 3rd quarter.
Kenny Allen, arguably the greatest kicker of the Harbaugh era, drilled a 51-yard field goal with just fewer than 10 minutes to play. Based on the tone of the game, all defense, it was unlikely that Iowa would be able to score a touchdown — so keeping the Hawkeyes out of field goal range was a must, since it was that type of game.
Nope. Duncan’s 33-yarder ruined what should have been a trip to the College Football Playoff.
Well, that play and the fact that JT was indeed short. Everybody knows that. Do we even have to go over, perhaps, the worst call in the history of Ohio State vs. Michigan. Probably goes for recent memory too. Who in their right mind would say that Barrett had enough for a first down? He was so painfully and obviously short, that it was almost OK to feel bad for the Wolverines.
A correct call on that play probably results in a Michigan win. But the Buckeyes won 30-27. That one really hurt the Wolverines internally, whether they admit it or not. That was brutal.
Speaking of brutal, 2015’s “Trouble with the Snap” was the worst way a team could ever lose a football game. Michigan just needed to safely punt the ball away and cover what was supposed to be a meaningless attempt at a return.
Nope, didn’t happen.
Punter Blake O’Neill mishandled it right inside of his own 40, and MSU’s Jalen Watts-Jackson became a storied figure in Spartans’ lore, scooping and scoring as time melted to zero.
This past weekend, the Wolverines held a 30-14 lead over MSU in the 3rd quarter. Yes, there were some questionable calls. But there was also poor execution on the part of UM. Harbaugh admitted that the fumble by true freshman QB JJ McCarthy was supposed to be a hand-off to RB Blake Corum.
That play turned the tide in favor of Michigan State, which won 37-33.
Yeah, Harbaugh’s been close to a lot of things. A handful of plays have separated him from being Paul Finebaum’s favorite target to being a coach with 2 CFP appearances and a lot better looking rivalry record in 7 years.
Adam Biggers brings his expertise on the Michigan beat to Saturday Tradition. Follow him on Twitter @AdamBiggers81.