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Michigan football: Which coach would you choose over Jim Harbaugh?

By Cameron Stokes

Oct 24, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on during pre game warmups before a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh looks on during pre game warmups before a game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Lincoln Riley

Lincoln Riley was first hired at Oklahoma in 2015 (as offensive coordinator) under former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. Bob Stoops spent two more years as head coach of the Sooners before retiring in 2017. Lincoln Riley took over as head coach and hasn’t looked back since. Overall, Riley has a 45-8 record, with a few (3) of those losses in the CFP.

Various college football analysts and media members have praised Riley for his innovation in the college game. He has had some great QBs play for him, with Heisman trophy winners like Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, and Heisman-favorite Spencer Rattler this season.

Recruiting is definitely a strength of Riley’s, as he has had the #9, #6, #12, and #10 recruiting classes (from 2018-2021 in order). These recruiting rankings may not be what Clemson and Alabama have, but it definitely gets the job done for the conference that Riley is in, the Big-12.

The one major knock on Lincoln Riley’s coaching has been his past defenses. They have been decent to downright terrible all throughout his tenure as OU head coach. His defenses have ranked (since 2017) 57th, 108th, 25th, and 29th. It is very obviously known that the Big-12 isn’t a conference known for its defense. This really came to a head in the CFP, when his defense gave up 63 points to LSU in the 2019 CFP.

Yes, LSU dominated everyone that season but still. Oklahoma’s high-powered offense couldn’t do anything in that playoff game, managed a measly 28 points, and in total, lost by 35 points.

So although Oklahoma did have two Heisman-winning QBs, the Sooners also have some major defensive flaws. To be honest, though, Michigan football fans would definitely welcome a Heisman-winning QB to Ann Arbor and would probably take a couple of years of decent to horrible defense to have an elite offense for once.

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