Michigan Football: Top 5 wins for Jim Harbaugh as Wolverines head coach
No. 1 routing eighth-ranked Notre Dame 45-14
If and when Harbaugh beats Ohio State, the victory will be vaulted to the top of this list, however, until that happens, the blowout of Notre Dame last Saturday was the best win Harbaugh has recorded in his five seasons.
It’s not just that Harbaugh earned his second win over a top-10 team, it was the way his team accomplished that feat. The Wolverines jumped ahead 17-0 in the first half and then turned it on in the second, putting the game away for good on two Patterson touchdown passes.
The defense dominated Notre Dame and made the Irish look silly, while offensively, the Wolverines physically dominated, rushing for 300 yards and imposing their will.
People want to mitigate big wins by Harbaugh but good luck doing that here. Notre Dame was a legit playoff contender until last Saturday and it’s only loss this season came in a close game at Georgia, another so-called elite team.
The Irish have routinely played in major bowl games and even reached the College Football Playoff last season, so there’s no arguing that it was an elite win.
Top 10 bowl victories for Michigan football. dark. Next
Notre Dame isn’t Ohio State, Clemson or Alabama, even Georgia, but it’s right in that mix of upper-echelon programs and beating the Irish, in that fashion it did, reminded everyone that Michigan football is right in that mix too. That’s why it’s No.1 and will be, at least for now.