After flirting with the NFL during previous offseasons, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is officially leaving the Wolverine program for another shot at the NFL, this time with the Los Angeles Chargers.
It’s been an up-and-down narrative for Harbaugh as the quote-unquote savior of the program, with many attempting to run him out of Ann Arbor early on. However, the end was one that — at least “Michigan men” — we’re very approving of, pending NCAA investigations aside.
Michigan sure had it’s issues trying to get over the hump against its archrival, Ohio State, but once the program did get going under Harbaugh, it won three straight and capped it with a College Football Playoff national championship.
We decided to reflect and look at each year Harbaugh went toe-to-toe with the scarlet and gray. Here’s a look at each matchup with his Michigan teams, the results and a short synopsis of it played out.
2015 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Result
(No. 8) Ohio State 42, (No. 10) Michigan 13
What happened
Jim Harbaugh came in as a coach known for physical play, but it was Ohio State that owned the trenches and running game and physically beat up the Wolverines in his first season.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 0-1
2016 in Columbus, Ohio
The Result
(No. 2) Ohio State 30, (No. 3) Michigan 27 (2 OT)
What happened
Michigan controlled most of the game, but Ohio State found its footing late and forced overtime. In the second overtime, OSU forced a field goal, then J.T. Barrett earned a fourth-down conversion via “the spot heard around the world,” before Curtis Samuel won it on a touchdown scamper to keep Urban Meyer undefeated against TTUN.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 0-2
2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Result
(No. 9) Ohio State 31, Michigan 20
What happened
Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett injured his knee on the sidelines before the game and had to be taken out after trying to tough it out. Backup Dwayne Haskins came in and engineered a come-from-behind victory in a pretty tight and equally matched game. The Buckeyes simply made more plays down the stretch than Michigan.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 0-3
2018 in Columbus, Ohio
The Result
(10) No. Ohio State 62, (No. 4) Michigan 39
What happened
The Michigan defense had no answer for the speed and passing game of the underdog Ohio State team. Dwayne Haskins threw for 396 yards and six touchdowns in one of the most lopsided and surprising results in the series. The narrative of Harbaugh being a flop artist who would never catch OSU starts to gain more steam.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 0-4
2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Result
(No. 1) Ohio State 56, (No. 13) Michigan 27
What happened
Justin Fields introduced himself to Jim Harbaugh and Michigan with similar results as the previous meeting. The Wolverines couldn’t stop the OSU offense and couldn’t score enough to keep up with the laser light show and athleticism of Fields and company.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 0-5
2020 - Game Canceled
The Result
Game canceled
What happened
COVID-19 spread through the Michigan program and the program canceled the meeting with Ohio State. Some say the Wolverines ducked the game because of how good the Buckeyes were that year. Regardless, a worldwide pandemic shuttered “The Game” for 2020.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 0-5
2021 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Result
(No. 5) Michigan 42, (No. 2) Ohio State 27
What happened
Harbaugh finally got the Ohio State monkey off his back in a snowy and physical game that was the start of the pendulum swinging in the rivalry. Michigan physically imposed its will.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 1-5
2022 in Columbus, Ohio
The Result
(No. 3) Michigan 45, (No. 2) Ohio State 23
What happened
Michigan dominated the second half and the line of scrimmage for the second straight season en route to a rout that was full of big plays given up by the Ohio State defense. The narrative of the rivalry officially turning is cemented.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 2-5
2023 in Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Result
(No. 3) Michigan 30, (No. 2) Ohio State 24
What happened
Harbaugh doesn’t get credit for this one because he was serving a three-game suspension, but Michigan beat Ohio State in a close game that was determined by mistakes and execution. OSU and quarterback Kyle McCord were driving to potentially win the game late, but an interception deep in Wolverines’ territory sealed the deal.
Running Record
Harbaugh’s record vs. Ohio State, 2-5
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