Michigan Football: 5 questions that must be answered entering 2018

Can Harbaugh beat Urban Meyer or at least Michigan State again?

Michigan football fans want a win over Notre Dame sure, but if you asked what two games they want the Wolverines to win this year, the overwhelming majority would likely say Ohio State, followed by Michigan State.

It would be nice to beat the Irish to open the season. It could be a springboard to something, but it won’t take the pressure off beating the Spartans and Buckeyes. No one will care about that Notre Dame win if Michigan finishes fourth in the Big Ten East again.

So far, Harbaugh is 1-5 against his two main rivals, yet he could easily have three or four wins. Michigan had a great chance to beat Ohio State in 2016 and 2017. The same is true for Michigan State, which needed a freak touchdown to beat UM in 2015 and an all-time bad performance from John O’Korn to steal a win last season.

Harbaugh’s teams have been right there, but one thing has been missing — a quarterback. The defense has been great, but the offense needs to live up to its part of the bargain. The running game needs to show up and Patterson needs to make those game-changing plays he was brought to Ann Arbor to make.

But of all the things that will decide if Michigan’s season is successful in 2018, the biggest factor will be how the team performs in those two games. Win one and have a 9-10 win season and most would probably view that at least as a moderate success.

However, if Michigan football drops both games again, the criticism could reach a fever pitch.